Artist Anna Whelan Betts

 

Ask Arts noted that “there is precious little known about Anna Whelan Betts.” She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy with Robert Vonnoh, then moved to Paris, where she honed her craft under the tutelage of Gustave-Claude-Etienne Courtois. Back in the states, she studied under Howard Pyle at the Drexel Institute.

In the early 1900s, her work appeared in many popular magazines, including Harper’s, Scribner’s, Century, Collier’s, The Ladies Home Journal, St. Nicholas Magazine, and more.

Her illustrations feature vibrant colors, elegantly dressed women, and well-mannered children.

Anna Whelan Betts illustrated Dawn of the Morning, Through Welsh Doorways by Jeannette Marks, and Nancy’s Country Christmas by Eleanor Hoyt.

Eye problems cut Betts’ career short and forced her to give up illustrating in 1925. After that, she taught art at a private boys’ school.