William Berczy
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William Berczy (December 10, 1744 - February 5, 1813) was a Canadian painter.
Born in Saxony, he studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna and at the University of Jena in Saxony. His early career was spent in several European countries, including Italy and England, where he exhibited at the Royal Academy. In 1792 he sailed for the Americas, setting up a business in York (now Toronto) a couple of years later. He also worked in Quebec. Although best known for his portraits, he also carried out religious paintings and architectural work, including plans for Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1803.
His two best known pictures are a full-length portrait of the Mohawk chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) (c. 1805) [1] (http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artwork_e.jsp?mkey=3247) and a group portrait of the Woolsey Family (http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artwork_e.jsp?mkey=3359) (1809).
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=36383)