Featured Artists' Biographies (W)

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Joseph Wagner.

Joseph Wagner (Thalendorf, 1706 - Munich, 1780): A highly regarded eighteenth century engraver, Joseph Wagner studied painting under Jacopo Amigoni, in Venice. This Italian master persuaded Wagner to turn his talents to the art of engraving. It proved to be to Amigoni's advantage as for the following ten years Wagner was largely employed by him to engrave designs from his paintings. Wagner thus accompanied his former teacher to Rome, Bologna, Paris and England (1733). His first commission in England was to engrave the portraits of the daughters of George II -- Anne, Amelia and Caroline. After residing in London for several years, Wagner returned to Venice.

During the latter part of his career in Venice Joseph Wagner opened a school of engraving as well as conducting a profitable publishing house. Among Wagner's best known assistants and students were Flipart, Beraldi and Francesco Bartolozzi, who would become England's greatest master of the stipple engraving in the late eighteenth century.

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Charles Wagstaff

Charles Edward Wagstaff (London, 1808 - 1850): Despite a relatively brief life, Charles Edward Wagstaff clearly rose to the top of his artistic profession. After completing his duties as an apprentice engraver in London he went on to engrave the portraits of such famous contemporaries as Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington. Such desirable early Victorian era engravings as The Golfers: A Grand Match Over St. Andrews' Links' were from his hand.

The three most illustrious engravings covering the early years of Victoria's reign were all left in the hands of Charles Edward Wagstaff. These were, Victoria in her Coronation Robes (1839), The Coronation of Queen Victoria (1840) and The Marriage of Queen Victoria (1844). Victoria in her Coronation Robes was also published by Hodgson & Graves, the first official 'Printsellers to Her Majesty the Queen'.

View larger image and more information for Charles Albert Waltner's original etching, The Widow's Mite.

Charles Albert Waltner (Paris, 1846 - 1925): During the late nineteenth century the etchings of Charles Albert Waltner were equally well received in both Britain and France. His finely wrought interpretive etchings after contemporary paintings provided a serious challenge to the dominant style of mixed method engraving. Some painters, such as England's most famous genre artist, Sir John Everett Millais (1829-1896), preferred the effects achieved by Waltner and actively sought after his services.

Charles Waltner studied art in Paris under Henriquel-Dupont, Gerome and Martinet. He first exhibited his etchings at the Paris Salon in 1870, and afterwards contributed to many major exhibitions. The French government appointed him a chevalier of the Legion d'honneur in 1882. Charles Albert Waltner also collaborated with the great French etcher, Felix Bracquemond, on several series of etchings. In 1900, he received the Grand Prize for his art from the Exposition Universelle.

View larger image and more information for William Ward's original mezzotint engraving, Mrs. Braddyll.

William Ward (London, 1766 - 1826): William Ward is regarded as one of England's greatest mezzotint engravers of the early nineteenth century. As a student, he was apprenticed to John Raphael Smith and later assumed the position of his primary assistant. As an independent artist, Ward became renowned both for his portraits after contemporary painters (such as this example) and the genre scenes he engraved after the paintings of his brother-in-law, George Morland. William Ward was appointed 'Mezzotint Engraver to the Duke of York' in 1803, and later, 'Engraver to King William the Fourth'. In 1814 he was elected an Associate Engraver of the Royal Academy. As the 'A.R.A.' title follows his name in the original engraving, Mrs. Braddyll must date from after 1814.

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Anthonie Waterloo.

Anthonie Waterloo (Lille, c. 1610 - Utrecht, c. 1690: For being one of the most famous masters of Dutch seventeenth century etching, surprisingly little is known of the actual life of Anthonie Waterloo. His artistic training is not known and he was probably self-taught. Waterloo moved about considerably during his life. After leaving his native Lille he settled in Utrecht. In 1640 he was living in Amsterdam as his marriage was registered there. He then moved to Leeuwarden in Friesland and became a citizen there in 1643. After another period in Amsterdam he returned to live in Leeuwarden in 1654. Waterloo finally settled permanently in Utrecht several years later. It is also known that he traveled through parts of Germany, the South Netherlands and possibly Italy.

In total, Anthonie Waterloo created one hundred and twenty-six original etchings. None are dated. Until quite recently, scholars ascribed about twenty further etchings to his hand, but these have since been found to have been the work of Johannes Ruisscher (c. 1625-1675), whose plates were published by Waterloo posthumously. Waterloo's etchings concentrate almost solely upon landscape views. In particular, his characteristic depictions of forests and trees became immensely popular during the eighteenth century and many artists in Europe attempted to imitate his style.

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Albert James Webb.

Albert James Webb (New York, born, 1891 - died ?) A talented New York City painter, etcher and lithographic artist, Albert James Webb studied at the Art Students League. He first exhibited his art in New York and elsewhere at the end of the first World War. He mostly painted during this time and he is not known to have created any original etchings or lithographs before the beginning of the Great Depression in 1930.

Most of Webb's career was lived in New York City. He did, however, visit California on several occasions during the Depression and this drypoint engraving no doubt was created by him at that time. It is a striking work of original art that completely captures the atmosphere of wind, sea and rain.

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Sybilla Mittell Weber.

Sybilla Mittell Weber (New York, 1892 - 1957): An outstanding American engraver and painter, Sybilla Mittell Weber studied first at the Art Academy of Munich, Germany, under Alfons Purtscher, and later in New York at the Art Students League under the influential etcher and writer, Joseph Pennell. Weber began to exhibit her original etchings and engravings in 1924. By 1930 she had established a wide reputation for her art both in the United States and in England and Germany. Combing strong Expressionistic and Art Deco elements, she favoured the drypoint medium, where the thick, furrowed lines of the burin best expressed her imagery. Many of her greatest works in this medium were studies of horses, dogs and other animals.

Today, Sybilla Weber is recognized as one of the finest American women engravers of the 1930's era. She was a full member of the Society of American Etchers, the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, the National Arts Club and the Federation of Arts.

View larger image and more information for Gypsies by Ernest Herbert Whydale.

rnest Herbert Whydale (Elland, Yorkshire, 1886 - Royston, 1952): An exceptional British painter and etcher, Ernest Herbert Whydale studies art in both Birmingham and St. Leonards-on-Sea. He created his first etching in 1913 and continued through the 1930's. E. Herbert Whydale exhibited his paintings and etchings with both the Royal Academy and the Royal Engravers and was elected A.R.E. in 1920.

E. H. Whydale's art focuses primarily on rural life. Scenes of ploughing, carting, farming and country markets and fairs figure prominently in his work. Especially in his etchings, Whydale brilliantly captured the fast disappearing English countryside.

View larger image and more information for Sapeur des Gardes Suisses by Johann Georg Wille.

Johann Georg Wille (Bieberthal, Konigsberg, 1715 - Paris, 1808): One of the most eminent engravers of the eighteenth century, Johann Georg Wille learned to engrave as a youthful apprentice to a gunmaker. His talents were soon recognized and in 1736 he was sent to Paris to engrave some plates after Rigaud. Most of Wille's early art was in the genre of portrait engraving. By 1750, however, Wille had established himself as a leading engraver of historical and genre subjects, particularly after the designs of contemporary Dutch and German painters. Wille's unsurpassed ability to render form and texture earned him many honours. During his career he was awarded the lucrative titles of Engraver to the King of France, Engraver to the Emperor of Germany and Engraver to the King of Denmark. He was elected an Academician of the French Academy in 1761 and was also a member of the Academies of Dresden, Berlin, Augsburg, Vienna and Rouen.

As the eighteenth century drew to a close the changing French political climate was not kind to J. G. Wille. Like many persons associated with French royalty, Wille lost his property and much of his possessions during the French Revolution. Failing eyesight also contributed to his poverty. His last engraving bears the date of 1790.

View larger image, more information and other original works of art by Adolphe Willette.

Adolphe Leon Willette (Chalons-sur-Marne, 1857 - Paris, 1926): One of France's most remarkable artists of the legendary Art Nouveau era, Adolphe Leon Willette studied art under Cabanel at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He first exhibited his art at the Paris Salon in 1881 and became a regular contributor to major French exhibitions from 1887 onwards. During the 1890's, Willette achieved great fame as a versatile lithographer, painter, illustrator, poster artist and caricaturist. He also emerged as a major writer and editor in the Leftist press. In 1906, Willette achieved the highest honour for a French artist when he was appointed Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur.

As an original lithographic artist, Willette was a master of both social satire and character study. He was, in fact, commissioned by the prestigious L'Estampe Originale to submit lithographs in 1893, 1894 and 1895, along with such other artists as Whistler, Renoir, Redon, Toulouse-Lautrec and Pissarro. Pierrot Pendu was Willette's contribution for 1894. During the Art Nouveau decade (1890-1900) Willette was one of the most frequently sought after artists by Paris publishers for his lithographic posters and prints.

View larger image, more information and other original etchings by James Mallory Willson.

James Mallory Willson (Kissimmee, Florida, 1890 - West Palm Beach, 1962): A fine American etcher and painter, James Mallory Willson studied art at the Art Students' League of New York and at the National Academy of Design under Bridgman and Maynard. He then completed his studies abroad at the Academie Colarossi, Paris, under Johansen and Henri. During his career, Willson exhibited frequently with the Society of American Graphic Artists and at the National Academy of Design. He was a full member of the New York Water Color Club, the Art Students' League of New York and of the Chicago Society of Etchers. His original etchings are now included in most major American collections, including the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. During the 1940's and 1950's, James Mallory Willson assumed the post of Professor of Drawing and Painting at the Norton School of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida.

View larger image, more information and other original etchings by John Winkler.

John W. Winkler (Austria, 1890 - San Francisco, 1979): One of the finest American etchers of the early twentieth century, John W. Winkler was born in Austria but settled in California early in his life. Winkler studied under Frank van Sloun at the California Institute of Arts and published his first original etching in 1915. During the following eight years he established a large national reputation for his etchings, the great majority being depictions of San Francisco and its environs. By 1923 he had created 88 etchings which were often compared to the work of Whistler, particularly the Whistler etchings found in the 'French Set' and 'Thames Set'. Like Whistler, Winkler had the ability to capture life and movement with the utmost simplicity.

In 1923, John Winkler moved to Paris and resided there for a period of five years. Returning to America, Winkler became a full member of the Chicago Society of Etchers, the Brooklyn Society of Etchers and the American Society of Illustrators. In 1936 he was admitted into the prestigious National Academy of Design. Examples of Winkler's original etchings are included in the collections of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, the Musee du Luxembourg, Paris, the Chicago Art Institute and the New York Public Library.

View larger image, more information and other original etchings by Thomas Waterman.

Thomas Waterman Wood: Montpelier, VT, 1823 - New York, 1903: An outstanding American etcher and painter of portraits and genre scenes, Thomas Waterman Wood studied under Chester Harding, in Boston, and Hans Gude, in Dusseldorf. Early in his career (1846-1850) Wood actually lived and worked in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. He returned to Canada in 1855 and painted both in Montreal and Quebec City. Later he moved to Europe (1859-1861) and then permanently settled in New York City where he established a successful studio.

Thomas Waterman Wood was a founding member of the important New York Etching Club and was also a member of the American Water Color Society and the National Arts Club. He was elected an Associate of the prestigious National Academy of Design in 1869 and a full Academician in 1871. The most complete collection of his etchings and paintings is housed in the Wood Art Gallery of Montpelier, Vermont. This institution is devoted entirely to Wood's art.

View larger image and more information for Carl Wuermer's original drawing.

Carl Wuermer (Munich, Germany, 1900 - Poway, California, 1981): Although Carl Wuermer was born in Germany and spent the last few months of his life in California, he will always be remembered as one of New York’s leading artists of the twentieth century. Wuermer came to Chicago as a young man and began his formal studies there at the Art Institute of Chicago (1920-1924),under Wellington Jarard Reynolds (1866-1931). Reynolds was a well known figure and portrait painter. He recognized that Carl Wuermer was a most gifted student and actually employed him as an assistant on several occasions. During this period Carl Wuermer exhibited his art at the Chicago Art Students League.

As early as 1920, Carl Wuermer was exhibiting his paintings, drawings and etchings nationally. Equally accomplished at both landscape depictions and figure studies, his art won awards from such institutions as, the Art Institute of Chicago (1926), the National Academy of Design (1928), the Carnegie Institute (1945) and the Allied Artists of America (1971). Carl Wuermer was a full member of the Art Institute of Chicago Alumni, the Allied Artists of America, the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts, Salons of America and the Hudson Valley Art Association. His art is now included in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Municipal Collection, Chicago, Amherst College and the IBM Collection.