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William S. Darling
(1882-1963)


William Darling (born Wilmos Bela Sandorhaji) was a painter born at his family estate in Sandorhaji, Hungary on September 14, 1882. Darling studied art for eight years at the Royal Academy of Budapest followed by further study in Paris at Ecole des Beaux-Arts. After immigrating to the States in 1910, he established a reputation as a portrait painter in New York. At the beginning of WWI he settled in Los Angeles and, due to anti-German sentiment, changed his Hungarian name to William S. Darling. He then began a 30 year career as supervising art director for 20th Century Fox Studios, winning three Oscars and several nominations for his settings. During his leisure he began painting landscapes en plein air as well as nocturnal cowboy and Indian scenes a la Frank Tenney Johnson. Darling maintained homes in Palm Springs and Laguna Beach where he derived much of his subject matter. He also made many painting forays into the Southwest. He died in Laguna Beach on December 15, 1963.

Member: Laguna Beach Art Association (President); Desert Art Center, Palm Springs (President).

Exhibited: Laguna Festival of Arts annuals.

Works Held: Laguna Beach Museum; National Gallery, Hungary (self-portrait).

Source:
Hughes, Edan M. Artists In California 1786-1940. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Sacramento: Crocker, Art Museum, 2002. N. pag. 2 vols. Print.