William Wendt
American,
(1865–1946)
William Wendt (February 20, 1865, Bentzen, Kingdom of Prussia - December 29, 1946, Laguna Beach) was a German-born American landscape painter. He was called the "Dean of Southern California landscape painters." He emigrated to the United States in 1880, while still a teenager, and spent some time as a staff artist in Chicago. He married the sculptor, Julia Bracken in 1906 and moved to California shortly thereafter. Wendt was a founding member of the California Art Club, along with his wife Julia, and served as its first president for six years. Wendt built his studio in Laguna Beach, California.