Carl Werntz
Encyclopedia
Carl Newland Werntz was a well known Chicago painter, fine arts photographer, illustrator, cartoonist and educator who founded the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Werntz was a world traveler who was a proponent of Asian art and Japonisme. Carl Werntz was born in Sterling Illinois and dies on a trip to Mexico City
. Through his own sketching and photographic expeditions to the American Southwest
and his influence, he played an important role in the development of painting in the Southwest region in the early 20th century.
, Frederick Freer, Lawton Parker, Jeanette Pratt, Orson Lowell and the great Art Nouveau
master Alphons Mucha who was then in Chicago
. He left for Paris where he studied with the American Impressionist painter Richard E. Miller and Onorato Carlandi in Rome. He also studied at the Academie Colorossi in Paris. In Paris, Werntz came under the influence of Japonisme and he became so interested in Japanese art that he traveled to Japan where he studied with Set Mizumo and Kaho Kawakita.
. He was one of the main illustrators for the high-brow Chicago literary publication The Four O'Clock. Werntz also illustrated columns by the famous Chicago writer George Ade
along with Charles Sarka and Clyde Newman. The artist was married to Millicent Mary Wetmore Werntz (born, November 4, 1886) who survived him and later lived in Reno, Nevada
.
, which was a much larger school that had a fine arts program based on French atelier teaching. In contrast, Werntz designed the school he founded to offer commercial
and applied art
courses as well as fine art
s instruction. He offered cartooning and illustration
courses as well as fashion design
and fashion illustration
. In 1910, the school was located at 81 East Madsion Street. It advertised "Sunshine Painting and Illustrating Classes - wonderful effects, day and night. This enabled students to learn the principles of painting out of doors scenes in indoor settings. In 1937, During the Great Depression
, the school was sold to the artist Ruth VanSickle Ford
(1897–1989), who had studied at the Academy under Werntz from 1915-1918. Many prominent artists studied at the Academy including the California painter Theodore Lukits
(1897–1992), the Taos painter Dale Nichols (1904–1995) and the cartoonist, animator and entrepreneur Walt Disney
.
(1884–1949) who later became famous as a member of the Taos Ten, the Taos Society of Artists
was employed by Werntz as a teacher at the academy as was the well known Chicago society portrait painter Wellington J. Reyonolds. William Penhallow Henderson (1877–1943), another painter who was active in Taos, New Mexico
and who painted there with Werntz taught at the school from 1904 to 1910.
to record Native American
life in Arizona
and New Mexico
. He visited the Pueblo
s, and the historic Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona
in the early 1900s. The Hubbell Trading Post is now a National Historic Site. Werntz was photographed by the famous Parisian photographer Man Ray
and copies of these images are in the collection of the Archives of American Art
.
also made many extended painting trips, Werntz traveled even more extensively and to more exotic lands. He made countless trips to Europe and extended trips to China and Japan. For about thirty years he and his wife Millicent - who seemed to thrive on lengthy trips as much as her husband did and accompanied him on every one - usually made at least one extended trip abroad each year.
He and Millicent left for Europe in the fall of 1911 and returned in January 1912. He returned to Europe in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I
. During the First World War, when Europe was in flames, he went to Japan and China in 1916 and Japan in 1917. At the conclusion of the war he and his wife went to the Caribbean, - to Jamaica
and Puerto Rico
. They were back in Japan in 1923, then back in Europe in 1924, 1925, 1928 and 1930. In 1935, he and Millicent were back in Asia, then in Europe a few months later. With war clouds gathering again, they were back in Europe in 1937 and in England
after the outbreak of war in 1939. In 1940, they were in South America
, where it was still safe to travel, the last records of their travels that are currently available. In 1944, Werntz died in Mexico City
, while he and his wife were one final trip south during World War II where travel to Europe or Asia was impossible.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Through his own sketching and photographic expeditions to the American Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and his influence, he played an important role in the development of painting in the Southwest region in the early 20th century.
Youth and education
Carl Werntz was born in Sterling, Illinois. He moved to Chicago about 1900. Werntz studied at the Chicago Art Institute with the legendary anatomist John VanderpoelJohn Vanderpoel
John Henry Vanderpoel was a Dutch-American artist and teacher, best known as an instructor of figure drawing. His book The Human Figure, a standard art school resource featuring numerous of his drawings based on his teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago, was published in 1907.Born in the...
, Frederick Freer, Lawton Parker, Jeanette Pratt, Orson Lowell and the great Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
master Alphons Mucha who was then in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He left for Paris where he studied with the American Impressionist painter Richard E. Miller and Onorato Carlandi in Rome. He also studied at the Academie Colorossi in Paris. In Paris, Werntz came under the influence of Japonisme and he became so interested in Japanese art that he traveled to Japan where he studied with Set Mizumo and Kaho Kawakita.
In Chicago
After the conclusion of his studies, Werntz settled back in Chicago and opened a home and studio at 18 South Michigan Avenue. He was a cartoonist with the Chicago Record and did illustrations for Midwestern publications as well as National publications such as "Life", "Redbook", "Century", and "Art and Archeology. " He also was a newspaper illustrator who did work for the London News and the New York Times. Werntz exhibited his paintings at the Chicago Art Institute and was a member of the Palette and Chisel Club. His work was also exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Society of Western ArtistsSociety of Western Artists
The Society of Western Artists refers to two distinct and wholly unrelated organizations in the history of American art:*Society of Western Artists *Society of Western Artists...
. He was one of the main illustrators for the high-brow Chicago literary publication The Four O'Clock. Werntz also illustrated columns by the famous Chicago writer George Ade
George Ade
George Ade was an American writer, newspaper columnist, and playwright.-Biography:Ade was born in Kentland, Indiana, one of seven children raised by John and Adaline Ade. While attending Purdue University, he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity...
along with Charles Sarka and Clyde Newman. The artist was married to Millicent Mary Wetmore Werntz (born, November 4, 1886) who survived him and later lived in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
.
The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
Werntz founded the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts in 1902. The goal of the Chicago Academy was to give students a practical career. Emma M. Church and E.M. Ashcroft Jr. were also directors in the early years of the school. The Academy played a complementary role to the Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, which was a much larger school that had a fine arts program based on French atelier teaching. In contrast, Werntz designed the school he founded to offer commercial
Commercial art
Commercial art is historically a subsector of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. The term has become increasingly anachronistic in favor of more contemporary terms such as graphic design and advertising art.Commercial art traditionally...
and applied art
Applied art
Applied art is the application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use. Whereas fine arts serve as intellectual stimulation to the viewer or academic sensibilities, the applied arts incorporate design and creative ideals to objects of utility, such as a cup, magazine or...
courses as well as fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
s instruction. He offered cartooning and illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
courses as well as fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
and fashion illustration
Fashion illustration
Fashion Illustration is the communication of fashion that originates with illustration, drawing and painting. It is usually commissioned for reproduction in fashion magazines as one part of an editorial feature or for the purpose of advertising and promoting fashion makers, fashion boutiques and...
. In 1910, the school was located at 81 East Madsion Street. It advertised "Sunshine Painting and Illustrating Classes - wonderful effects, day and night. This enabled students to learn the principles of painting out of doors scenes in indoor settings. In 1937, During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the school was sold to the artist Ruth VanSickle Ford
Ruth VanSickle Ford
Ruth VanSickle Ford was an American painter, art teacher, and owner of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.Born to Anna Miller, a German immigrant, and Charles P. VanSickle, of Dutch heritage, Ruth was an only child and grew up on the west side of Aurora, Illinois. She attended Mary A. Todd Grade...
(1897–1989), who had studied at the Academy under Werntz from 1915-1918. Many prominent artists studied at the Academy including the California painter Theodore Lukits
Theodore Lukits
Theodore Nikolai Lukits was a California portrait and landscape painter. His initial fame came from his portraits of some of the most glamorous actresses of the Silent Film era, but since his death, his Asian-inspired works, figures drawn from Hispanic California and his pastel landscapes have all...
(1897–1992), the Taos painter Dale Nichols (1904–1995) and the cartoonist, animator and entrepreneur Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
.
Southwest
Because of Werntz passionate interest in the American Southwest, a number of his students ventured there to paint and live. William Victor HigginsWilliam Victor Higgins
William Victor Higgins was an American painter and teacher, born at Shelbyville, Indiana. He studied at the Art Institute in Chicago and at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. In Paris he was a pupil of Robert Henri, René Menard and Lucien Simon, and when he was in Munich he studied with Hans von...
(1884–1949) who later became famous as a member of the Taos Ten, the Taos Society of Artists
Taos Society of Artists
The Taos Society of Artists was an organization of visual arts founded in Taos, New Mexico in 1915; it disbanded in 1927. The Society was essentially a commercial cooperative, as opposed to a stylistic collective, and its foundation contributed to the development of the tiny Taos art colony into...
was employed by Werntz as a teacher at the academy as was the well known Chicago society portrait painter Wellington J. Reyonolds. William Penhallow Henderson (1877–1943), another painter who was active in Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
and who painted there with Werntz taught at the school from 1904 to 1910.
Photography career
Carl Werntz was a 'Camera Pictorialist' photographer He ventured to the Southwestern United StatesSouthwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
to record Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
life in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He visited the Pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
s, and the historic Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the early 1900s. The Hubbell Trading Post is now a National Historic Site. Werntz was photographed by the famous Parisian photographer Man Ray
Man Ray
Man Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
and copies of these images are in the collection of the Archives of American Art
Archives of American Art
The Archives of American Art is the largest collection of primary resources documenting the history of the visual arts in the United States. More than 16 million items of original material are housed in the Archives' research centers in Washington, D.C...
.
Prolific travels
Carl Werntz was may have been the best traveled artist of his era. While the New York and then California-based marine scenes painter Paul DoughertyPaul Dougherty
Paul Dougherty is an English former professional footballer and football coach who began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England...
also made many extended painting trips, Werntz traveled even more extensively and to more exotic lands. He made countless trips to Europe and extended trips to China and Japan. For about thirty years he and his wife Millicent - who seemed to thrive on lengthy trips as much as her husband did and accompanied him on every one - usually made at least one extended trip abroad each year.
He and Millicent left for Europe in the fall of 1911 and returned in January 1912. He returned to Europe in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. During the First World War, when Europe was in flames, he went to Japan and China in 1916 and Japan in 1917. At the conclusion of the war he and his wife went to the Caribbean, - to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. They were back in Japan in 1923, then back in Europe in 1924, 1925, 1928 and 1930. In 1935, he and Millicent were back in Asia, then in Europe a few months later. With war clouds gathering again, they were back in Europe in 1937 and in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
after the outbreak of war in 1939. In 1940, they were in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, where it was still safe to travel, the last records of their travels that are currently available. In 1944, Werntz died in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, while he and his wife were one final trip south during World War II where travel to Europe or Asia was impossible.
Memberships and affiliations
- Chicago Artists Guild
- Chicago Art Club
- American Artists Professional League
- Palette and Chisel Club
- American Federation of Artists
See also
- Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine ArtPalette and Chisel Academy of Fine ArtThe Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art is an association of representational artists, founded in Chicago in 1895. Palette & Chisel is the second oldest artist organization in the United States.-Founding:As the Inland Printer reported in June 1896:...
- American ImpressionismAmerican ImpressionismImpressionism, a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors, was practiced widely among American artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-An emerging artistic style from Paris:...
- Japonisme
- Taos Society of ArtistsTaos Society of ArtistsThe Taos Society of Artists was an organization of visual arts founded in Taos, New Mexico in 1915; it disbanded in 1927. The Society was essentially a commercial cooperative, as opposed to a stylistic collective, and its foundation contributed to the development of the tiny Taos art colony into...
External links
- http://www.yesterland.com/waltchicago.html Walt Disney in Chicago