Carl Werntz

He left for Paris where he studied with the American Impressionist painter Richard E. Miller and Onorato Carlandi in Rome.

In Paris, Werntz came under the influence of Japonisme and he became so interested in Japanese art that he traveled to Japan where he studied with Mizuno Toshikata and Kaho Kawakita.

After the conclusion of his studies, Werntz settled back in Chicago and opened a home and studio at 18 South Michigan Avenue.

Werntz exhibited his paintings at the Chicago Art Institute and was a member of the Palette and Chisel Club.

Werntz also illustrated columns by the famous Chicago writer George Ade along with Charles Sarka and Clyde Newman.

The artist was married to Millicent Mary Wetmore Werntz (born, November 4, 1886) who survived him and later lived in Reno, Nevada.

In 1937, during the Great Depression, the school was sold to the artist Ruth VanSickle Ford (1897–1989), who had studied at the Academy under Werntz from 1915-1918.

Because of Werntz' passionate interest in the American Southwest, a number of his students ventured there to paint and live.

While the New York and then California-based marine scenes painter Paul Dougherty also made many extended painting trips, Werntz traveled even more extensively and to more exotic lands.

In 1944, Werntz died in Mexico City, while he and his wife were making one final trip south during World War II where travel to Europe or Asia was impossible.