William Verdult

[Venetian Reflections] Oil on Canvas by William Verdult, Signed

circa 1975

William Verdult was born April 7, 1939 in Putte, Netherlands on the Belgium-Holland border. He was a Dutch-American artist and sculptor whose paintings reflected a perspective that can only be gained by living daily with life and death, good and evil, compassion and horror, victory and defeat. Verdult’s subjects range from character studies to still-life surrealism, each emphasizing the beauty of man’s existence. Known as the “Dutchmaster,” Verdult studied under old masters in Rome, Belgium, Holland, France and the US, achieving his classical style. He was considered one of the most versatile and contemporary artists in the world. His portraits reveal a rarely achieved understanding and mastery of human anatomy, the precise contour and interaction of muscle and bone structure. While Verdult is most widely acclaimed for his classical portraits, his talents encompass an extraordinary variety of subjects like Madonna and child, Native Americans, nudes, seascapes and landscapes. Born during the uncertain backdrop of World War II, Verdult spent the first two years of his life in hospitals. Throughout his early years, he suffered from smallpox and rheumatic fever. Self-taught, Verdult started painting around that time. In 1950 at age 11, he moved with his family to the United States and spent his youth in North Dakota. His years in the Dakotas helped define some of his later works. From the Dakotas, his family moved to New York, where at age 16, Verdult spent most of his time in Times Square drawing, painting, watching and studying people of all nationalities. At 21, he moved to California and Newport Beach became his home. Within a year, he was awarded ‘Artist of the Year’ by the Orange County, Costa Mesa Art League. Shortly after, Verdult caught the eye of renowned sculptor Peter Ott, whom he studied under. He taught at the Carmel School of Art and in 1967, opened his gallery in the area. From 1968–77 as a tireless painter known for his 3 am start time, Verdult’s career soared. Demonstrating a rare blend of color and keen-aged sensitivity to his far-reaching subjects, he skillfully incorporated the classical, traditional, modern and avant-garde into a compelling, distinctive and multi-faceted art style. The artist opened galleries in Palm Beach, Laguna Beach and Palm Springs and art lovers, celebrities and investors were drawn to his paintings. After nearly 20 years of work, Verdult completed his rendition of King Tut Treasures. The paintings included gold, diamonds and precious stones. Though his exhibits and showings are too lengthy to list, they include headliner exhibits and showings of the Tut Collection and other works at the Sahara, Sands, Sundance and Marina hotels in Las Vegas, as well as five-star establishments in San Francisco, Corona Del Mar and Beverly Hills, Hollywood California, Atlanta, Hawaii, Florida and Texas. Though Verdult did not follow the traditional museum route in displaying and promoting his works, his art followers and personal friends include a list of Who’s Who in Hollywood, highlighted by his close friendship with Telly Savalas. Many collectors throughout the world own paintings by Verdult. Notable past and present collectors include Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Robert Redford, Frank Sinatra, Farrah Fawcett, Alfred Hitchcock, Tom Jones, Gene Autry, Red Skelton, Lee Majors, Jack Lord, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley and Zsa Zsa Gábor.William Verdult was born April 7, 1939 in Putte, Netherlands on the Belgium-Holland border. He was a Dutch-American artist and sculptor whose paintings reflected a perspective that can only be gained by living daily with life and death, good and evil, compassion and horror, victory and defeat. Verdult’s subjects range from character studies to still-life surrealism, each emphasizing the beauty of man’s existence. Known as the “Dutchmaster,” Verdult studied under old masters in Rome, Belgium, Holland, France and the US, achieving his classical style. He was considered one of the most versatile and contemporary artists in the world. His portraits reveal a rarely achieved understanding and mastery of human anatomy, the precise contour and interaction of muscle and bone structure. While Verdult is most widely acclaimed for his classical portraits, his talents encompass an extraordinary variety of subjects like Madonna and child, Native Americans, nudes, seascapes and landscapes. Born during the uncertain backdrop of World War II, Verdult spent the first two years of his life in hospitals. Throughout his early years, he suffered from smallpox and rheumatic fever. Self-taught, Verdult started painting around that time. In 1950 at age 11, he moved with his family to the United States and spent his youth in North Dakota. His years in the Dakotas helped define some of his later works. From the Dakotas, his family moved to New York, where at age 16, Verdult spent most of his time in Times Square drawing, painting, watching and studying people of all nationalities. At 21, he moved to California and Newport Beach became his home. Within a year, he was awarded ‘Artist of the Year’ by the Orange County, Costa Mesa Art League. Shortly after, Verdult caught the eye of renowned sculptor Peter Ott, whom he studied under. He taught at the Carmel School of Art and in 1967, opened his gallery in the area. From 1968–77 as a tireless painter known for his 3 am start time, Verdult’s career soared. Demonstrating a rare blend of color and keen-aged sensitivity to his far-reaching subjects, he skillfully incorporated the classical, traditional, modern and avant-garde into a compelling, distinctive and multi-faceted art style. The artist opened galleries in Palm Beach, Laguna Beach and Palm Springs and art lovers, celebrities and investors were drawn to his paintings. After nearly 20 years of work, Verdult completed his rendition of King Tut Treasures. The paintings included gold, diamonds and precious stones. Though his exhibits and showings are too lengthy to list, they include headliner exhibits and showings of the Tut Collection and other works at the Sahara, Sands, Sundance and Marina hotels in Las Vegas, as well as five-star establishments in San Francisco, Corona Del Mar and Beverly Hills, Hollywood California, Atlanta, Hawaii, Florida and Texas. Though Verdult did not follow the traditional museum route in displaying and promoting his works, his art followers and personal friends include a list of Who’s Who in Hollywood, highlighted by his close friendship with Telly Savalas. Many collectors throughout the world own paintings by Verdult. Notable past and present collectors include Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Robert Redford, Frank Sinatra, Farrah Fawcett, Alfred Hitchcock, Tom Jones, Gene Autry, Red Skelton, Lee Majors, Jack Lord, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley and Zsa Zsa Gábor.