William Forsyth

William Forsyth Portrait, 1924

Courtesy of Indiana Historical Society

William Forsyth and his family moved to Indiana when he was 10 years old, living first in Versailles, then Indianapolis. Forsyth left high school to work and support his family by painting houses. Having always been interested in art, he spent his free time drawing, visiting the H. Lieber & Co. art gallery, and reading essays on the subject.

In 1877, Forsyth enrolled at the new Indiana School of Art in Indianapolis, where he studied under Indiana artist John Love. After the school closed in 1879, he and several of his classmates rented studios in the building that housed the former school and organized an art club, the “Bohe Club.”

Illustration of Three Dutch Figures, William Forsyth, 1881-1886

One of Forsyth’s paintings from his time studying in Munich, Germany.

From the collection of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

With the financial backing of his friend and fellow club member Thomas Hibben, Forsyth set off in January 1882 to study art at the Royal Academy in Munich, Germany. In 1886, Forsyth completed his studies in Munich and opened a studio there where he devoted his time to landscapes and painting outdoors.

Forsyth returned home to Indianapolis in 1889 and began teaching in Fort Wayne to help lighten the teaching load of J. Ottis Adams. That same year, the two artists opened their own art school in Muncie. Forsyth did not enjoy the small-town life of Muncie and left the school in 1891 to return to Indianapolis. He joined T. C. Steele’s newly formed school, Indiana School of Art, where he continued to teach until 1897. After the School of Art closed, Forsyth began teaching classes at the Union Trust Building in Indianapolis during the winter and spring months.

Forsyth painting with watercolors outdoors, ca. 1890s

Courtesy of Indiana Historical Society

In 1894, Forsyth exhibited 12 paintings as part of the ground-breaking first Hoosier Group exhibition. Two years later he joined the Society of Western Artists, in which he served in every office except for treasurer.

During the 1890s, Forsyth spent his summers exploring and painting throughout Indiana. At Cedar Farm on the Ohio River, Forsyth married his former student Alice Atkinson on October 14, 1897. Atkinson had studied at the Chicago Art Institute and taught in Vincennes before studying with Forsyth in 1895.

Winona: The Pool, William Forsyth, 1920-1926

A painting by Forsyth from his time teaching at Winona Lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana.

From the collection of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

In April 1906, Forsyth moved from his home downtown to Irvington for its small-town charm and quick access to Indianapolis via a 30-minute interurban ride. That fall, he joined the faculty of John Herron Art Institute, replacing Adams as principal instructor of drawing and painting. He also offered an informal summer outdoor painting course in Irvington.

In the 1920s, Forsyth worked with Indianapolis Public School No. 57, where he gave occasional presentations to students about painting and created a series of landscape murals for the school. He also expanded his teaching duties starting in 1924 to include a summer position at Winona Lake near Warsaw. He kept this position for nearly a decade.

In 1933, Herron underwent a reorganization and Forsyth was forced to resign. Needing income to support his family, he participated in the Public Works Administration program, creating two paintings for the Indiana State Library.