Dan Weggeland

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Danquart Anthon Weggeland (1827–1918) is considered the "Father of Utah Art" and was a great artist and teacher in the early history of the Utah.[1][2]

Weggeland was born in the city of Christiana (now Oslo), Norway. At age sixteen he began studying with a portrait painter in Christiana and at age 20 he went to Copenhagen where he eventually studied at the Danish Royal Academy of Art.[1]

After two years in Copenhagen, Weggeland returned to Christiana, where he worked as a portrait painter and did some work for theatres.[1]

In 1854, he was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and one of his main teachers was a missionary who had also attended the Royal Academy of Art, C. C. A. Christensen. After being baptized a member of the LDS Church, Weggeland moved to England. He served as a church missionary in England from 1857 to 1861. He then went to New York City where he studied with Daniel Huntington and George P. A. Healey.[1]

In 1862, Weggeland went on to Florence, Nebraska, from which he left in August for Utah Territory.[1] Weggeland journeyed to Utah in the Henry W. Miller Company.[3] Weggeland made sketches on his journey to Utah.[4]

During his early days in Utah Weggeland would occasionally trade a painting for a pair of well-knit socks.[5]

Weggeland's first major artistic work in Utah was his joint commission with C. C. A. Christiansen to do a series of paintings from the Bible and Book of Mormon. This commission came from Dimick B. Huntington.[5]

Weggeland made many paintings involving Mormon pioneers.[6]

Weggeland did murals for the St. George, Manti, Logan and Salt Lake Temples of the LDS Church.[7][8] He had also served as an art instructor to most of the church's art missionaries before they went to France.[9]

Weggeland died in Salt Lake City, Utah.[1]

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f Danquart Anthon Weggeland, Artists of Utah.
  2. ^ Richard L. Jensen, “The Friendly Invasion,” Ensign, July 1974, 46.
  3. ^ Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868: Henry W. Miller Company (1862).
  4. ^ Annabelle Shrieve, Mormon Emigrants Crossing the Plains in 1862.
  5. ^ a b J. Michael Hunter. "Storytellers: Scandinavians Art told of Restoration", LDS Church News January 22, 2000
  6. ^ Ann W. Hafen and LeRoy Reuben Hafen (1976). Handcarts to Zion: The Story of a Unique Western Migration, 1856–1860, with Contemporary Journals, Accounts, Reports; and Rosters of Members of the Ten Handcart Companies (A. H. Clark Co.).
  7. ^ “St. George Temple: One Hundred Years of Service,” Ensign, Mar. 1977, 92–94.
  8. ^ Lloyd, R. Scott "Pioneer Artists Enriched Mount Zion", LDS Church News October 16, 1993.
  9. ^ Giles H. Florence Jr., “Harvesting the Light: The 1890 Paris Art Mission,” Ensign, Oct. 1988, 35.