William Woodward

William Woodward (March 11, 1935 – June 14, 2023)

Biography

Early life and education Woodward is a third-generation native of Washington, D.C. Woodward’s father and grandfather were both artists. His father, Thomas Edwin Woodward, was a commercial artist. His paternal grandfather, Edwin Ashlee Woodward, was a sign painter of large billboards, restaurant murals, and circus posters and signage.

In 1952, Woodward was admitted to American University on the Mary Graydon academic scholarship. He earned his BA and MA degrees from American University, where he studied with Sarah Baker, Ben Summerford, and Robert Gates. He also studied at The Catholic University of America with the art historian John Shapley. He was subsequently awarded a two-year fellowship from The Leopold Schepp Foundation (1957–59) for independent study abroad. During his tenure at GWU he directed the overseas summer study program in Brittany, France for many years. He mentored several generations of artists in the materials and techniques of the Old Masters. Many of his former students became noted contemporary artists. He works primarily in oils, in alla prima painting, on hand stretched canvas. In his work, he often employs the multiple glaze technique favored by the Old Masters. He has presented lectures and demonstrations as a guest expert at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, re-creating the painting techniques of Old Masters, such as Titian and Peter Paul Rubens.

Critical reaction In Americas Magazine, Rafael Squirru, former Cultural Director of the Organization of American States, called Woodward a “virtuoso... a painter’s painter”.

Mark Jenkins for The Washington Post recently noted, “William Woodward is not literally an Old Master... But the local painter has the range and technique of one.”

Jill Wechsler for American Artist wrote, “Woodward has contributed to restoring faith in the continued vitality of traditional painting, helping to secure its niche in the modern art world.”

Works and paintings in public places Many of his major commissions are murals and paintings in public spaces, including: 1985: Today’s Army Proud and Ready/Leadership, Department of Defense, Washington, DC 1983: Space Shuttle Launch, Orbital Flight STS-7, NASA, Washington, DC 1982: The Memorial Day Parade, City Hall, Rockville, MD 1976: Portrait of John Paul Jones, National Park Service, Harpers Ferry, WV

Permanent collections 1989 Congress Bicentennial Silver Dollar designed by William Woodward. Woodward is the only artist ever to design both the obverse and reverse of a United States coin as a winner of the invitational design competition. The obverse features a depiction of the Statue of Freedom, which crowns the Capitol dome. The reverse of the coin is an illustration of the mace of the United States House of Representatives.