Louis Betts
1873-1961
American Impressionist Painter, often known for portraits, still lives, and genre-views painting.
Louis Betts was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. His art instruction came primarily from his father who was also a painter. At sixteen, he did his first portrait of his violin master in exchange for lessons. Painting and music became his "vocation and avocation" for the rest of his life.
Betts focused primarily on landscape painting until he was twenty-four. He then studied at the Pennsylvania Academy, and became a student of portrait painting under William Merritt Chase who encouraged him to become an Impressionist.
The first Cresson Scholarship permitted him to study for two years abroad. Betts then remained in France. Louis Betts became known as a successful portrait painter of the time in Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Madrid.
It was said of one of his portraits: "of Scott Libby, Jr., a handsome lad, is regarded as a perfect representation of American childhood and also as one of his finest achievements. Another critic wrote: "His grasp of character and essentials is revealed in a broad and dashing manner… He is a painter's painter in the truest meaning whose work will never appeal to connoisseurs." At the time many of his portraits went on to attain national prominence including: "Michael Cudahy," "Ella Flagg Young," and D. Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed of the Chicago University. He was also known for genre, portraits, landscapes, still lives, flowers Gardens, nudes, and Indians.
Betts was elected an associate member of the National Academy of Design in 1912; he became a full Academician in 1915. He was also a member of the Academy of National Arts, 1912. He is represented in various museums and institutions in the United States. He spent time at the Impressionists' art colony at Old Lyme, Connecticut. He passed away in 1961.
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