William Starkweather

William Edward Bloomfield Starkweather (1879 - 1969) was a painter, teacher, and writer, known for impressionist landscape paintings and book illustrations. He is also known for his research and writings on other painters, and was at one time considered "one of the greatest authorities on Goya".

Early life The details of Starkweather’s early childhood remain unclear. Records show that he was born William Edward Bloomfield in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 16, 1879, but the artist found evidence that he was actually born on May 10, 1876, in Belfast, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States with his mother in 1884. His mother died shortly afterwards, and he was adopted by John and Hannah Starkweather of New Haven, Connecticut.

Education After graduating from Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut, Starkweather studied at the Art Students' League in New York, where he studied with John Henry Twachtman, a member of the group of American Impressionists known as “the Ten”. It was most likely during this period that Starkweather developed his interest in light and color integral to his career.

Maturity Late Afternoon Light, 1915, by William Starkweather, from the permanent collection of the Hickory Museum of Art.

Upon return to New York in 1901, Starkweather supported himself by illustrating books and teaching at a private boys’ school. During this time, he was also saving for a trip to Spain.