Dan Weggeland facts for kids
Danquart Anthon Weggeland (born March 31, 1827 – died June 2, 1918) is known as the "Father of Utah Art." He was a famous artist and teacher in early Utah Territory.
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About Danquart Weggeland
Early Life and Art Training
Danquart Weggeland was born in Kristiansand, Norway. When he was 16, he started learning from a portrait painter in Christiania. At age 20, he moved to Copenhagen, where he studied at the Danish Royal Academy of Art.
After two years in Copenhagen, Weggeland went back to Christiania. There, he worked as a portrait painter and also painted scenes for theaters.
In 1854, he learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of his main teachers was a Mormon missionary named C. C. A. Christensen, who had also studied at the Royal Academy of Art. After joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Weggeland moved to England.
Journey to Utah
He worked as a missionary for the church in England from 1857 to 1861. Then, he went to New York City and studied with artists Daniel Huntington and George Peter Alexander Healy.
In 1862, Weggeland traveled to Florence, Nebraska. From there, he left in August for Utah Territory. Weggeland traveled to Utah with a group of early settlers called Mormon pioneers, in the Henry W. Miller Company. He made many sketches during his journey to Utah.
Art in Utah
When he first arrived in Utah Territory, Weggeland sometimes traded his paintings for things like warm socks.
His first big art project in Utah was working with C. C. A. Christensen. They were asked by Dimick B. Huntington to create a series of paintings based on stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Weggeland created many paintings that showed scenes of Mormon pioneers.
He also painted large murals inside the St. George, Manti, Logan, and Salt Lake Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also taught art to many of the church's missionaries who were also artists, before they went to France.
Weggeland passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Where to See His Art
You can find some of Danquart Weggeland's art at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts: [1]
Images for kids
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Dan Weggeland (before 1900)
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Homestead Family on Utah Lake
