William Charles Anthony Frerichs (1829-1905)

Frerichs was born in Ghent Belgium, the son of William Daniel, a general in the Dutch Army. His name at birth was Wilhelm Karel Anthonius Frerichs. He was educated in Belgium, having studied medicine at the University of Leyden and art at the Royal Academies in The Hague and Brussels. When he was only 18 years old, he completed a 12 x 17 foot painting that was purchased for the emperor of Russia. He was well traveled and enhanced his art training with independent study in Paris, Rome, and Vienna.

He emigrated to the United States in 1850. He settled first in New York City and exhibited at the National Academy of Design for the only time in 1854. He married Clara Branwhite Butler on ...