William Forsythe

(American, 1854-1935)

William Forsyth was born in California, Ohio, in 1854 and moved with his family to Indianapolis in 1860. He studied art briefly as a young man but financial hardships forced Forsyth to seek better paying work. He formed a house painting business with his brother and continued to paint in his free time. Having saved enough money, Forsyth began attending the Indiana School of Art in 1887, eventually becoming as assistant instructor. In exchange for paintings not yet painted, Forsyth was given the opportunity to join his friend T.C. Steele who was studying at the Royal Academy in Munich. Upon his return to the America, Forsyth would serve as a major figure in the “Hoosier School” of painters, exhibiting with T.C. Steele, Otto Stark, Richard Gruelle and J. Ottis Adams.