William Frederick Foster, A.N.A. (1882-1953)

California School

LADY OF FASHION, circa 1945

(8992)

30 x 25 inches / 38½ x 33½ framed

Oil on canvas

Signed by another hand upper stretcher bar: “Will Foster”

Painted with oil on verso of canvas: “25-30”

Provenance:          The Artist

                    Ardanelle McCool, (niece of the artist) and John Carridine

                    Thence by family descent

Illustrated:               Barton, Phyllis Settecase, William Frederick Foster, A.N.A.,

                    Portrait of a Painter, Los Angeles, Richlaine Publishing,

                    1989, p. 401

Will Foster was a great admirer of beautiful women and painted hundreds of pictures of them – either in elegant dress or in the nude. While early in his career he was an important illustrator, he developed a love of textures, and a large body of his work included dark backgrounds, usually with a brown overcast.  Those of us who knew Will or his work gave him the enduring distinction of being a member of the “Brown Soup School”.

Foster studied with Frank Duveneck (1848-1919), Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953), Robert Henri (1865-1929) and William Merritt Chase (1849-1916). He taught at the Chicago Art Institute and became an Associate in the National Academy of Design.  Eventually Will settled in Los Angeles and was one of the most accomplished artists in the local school.  He was made an honorary member of the California Art Club and taught many student artists who went on to successful careers.