Marine Corps War

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Felix deWeldon
1907-2003
"The Michaelangelo of the 20th Century"s


A Glimpse of His Extraordinary Life

Felix W. de Weldon was born in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria on April 12, 1907 the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer. Like all Viennese families before World War I, the de Weldon family was dominated by a love of music. In and around Vienna were the homes of Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, Schubert and Brahms.

He was only 6 years old when he was entered in St. Egidius School and had his first formal lesson in art. Here his talent was immediately recognized as genius and the school staff was soon taking him to museums to copy the old masters.

Soon after reaching his tenth birthday Felix entered Marchetti College, a preparatory school where he studied art, history, languages, anatomy and engineering. At age 17 he won his first national sculpture contest in Austria and began exhibiting his work at the Paris Salon in Vienna, and quickly achieved international recognition. In 1925 he graduated from Marchetti College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree at age 18. Continuing his academic education and pursuing his study of sculpture and painting, he then entered the University of Vienna's Academy of Creative Arts and School of Architecture and received Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in 1927 and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1929 at age 22.

Felix de Weldon then set out on two years of travel to broaden his knowledge of the ancient and modern arts. He traveled to Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Egypt, Palestine and Syria studying such masters as Michael Angelo, Raphael, da Vinci and Goya. From 1933 to 1937 he established a residence in London, where he maintained a studio.

In 1935 Dr. de Weldon was commissioned to create the bust of King George V to commemorate the 25th year of his reign. The bronze was originally displayed in Buckingham Palace, but now stands in the National Portrait Gallery in...