William de Leftwich Dodge was born in 1867 in Bedford, Virginia; but he grew up in Munich and Paris where his mother had gone to study painting. Early in the twentieth century, he was one of the most prominent muralists in America. His works were created on the grand scale for buildings as distinguished as the Library of Congress, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City's Surrogate Court Building and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. At that time, murals were considered an essential ingredient in the architectural planning of theaters, world's-fair exposition halls, and many private homes. Dodge was also commissioned for portraits and murals by such notables as King Faisal I, railroad-car designed George Pullman and art critic Sadakichi Hartmann.

All of Dodge's work was done from life, including his working drawings. He researched everything for historical accuracy (probably not an onerous task, as archaeology and history were two of his passions). Dodge was also an inventor; the Smithsonian Institution owns one of his model helicopters.

Biography courtesy of The Charleston Renaissance Gallery, www.antiquesandfineart.com/charleston