William Wendt was a self taught artist who was born on February 20, 1865 in Germany. He died on December 29, 1946. In 1880, Wendt immigrated to the United States and lived in Chicago. In his free time he began to practice his love for painting. He married Julia Bracken in 1906, and they decided to settle in California. The California countryside became the source of inspiration for his paintings.
William Wendt soon emerged as one of California's best-known landscape painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. William Wendt earned the title of the "Dean of Southern California" artists. His landscapes paintings were especially known for their rich greens and browns. In 1911, Wendt became the first president of the California Art Club. His organization reflected his dedicated commitment to use the California landscape in paintings.
