William Darling (1882-1963) - Springtime - Original Oil on Board P3268

A masterly desert landscape by a fascinating figure. From a Sherwood Forest estate.

Born at his family estate in Sandorhaji, Hungary, William Darling studied art for eight years at the Royal Academy of Budapest. He had further study on a scholarship at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1910, he came to the United States and became a portrait painter in New York City.

At the onset of World War II, he settled in California, with homes in Palm Springs and Laguna Beach. Because of war-time sentiment, he changed his name from Wilmos Bela Sandorhaji to William Darling.

For 30 years he was supervising Art Director for 20th Century Fox studios and won Oscars for Anna and the King of Siam, Song of Bernadette and The Rains Came.

It was the golden era of the movie industry.
In his leisure he did plein-aire landscape and cowboy and Indian scenes.

The Hungarian government purchased several of his works for public buildings and their national gallery.