Dan Weggeland

Danquart Anthon Weggeland, known as Dan (March 31, 1827 – June 2, 1918) was an artist and teacher in the early Utah Territory. He was sometimes referred to as the "Father of Utah Art".

Biography He was born in the city of Kristiansand, Norway. At age sixteen, he began studying with a portrait painter in Christiania and, at the age of twenty, went to Copenhagen, where he eventually studied at the Danish Royal Academy of Art. After two years in Copenhagen, he returned to Christiania, where he worked as a portrait painter and did some work for theatres. He made numerous sketches along the way.

During his early days in Utah Territory, he would occasionally trade a painting for a pair of well-knit socks. His first major artistic work in Utah was his joint commission with his mentor, Christensen, to do a series of paintings from the Bible and Book of Mormon. This commission came from Dimick B. Huntington. He also did murals for the St. George, Manti, Logan and Salt Lake Temples of the LDS Church. In addition, he served as an art instructor for most of the church's art missionaries before they went to France.

He died in Salt Lake City, Utah.