Louis Betts was a sought- after portrait artist in the U.S. and abroad, who distinguished himself in capturing the physical and spiritual character of his subjects. Studied the paintings of Franz Hals in Holland and Velasquez in Spain. Betts helped found the artists colony in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was also a violinist and avid fisherman.

Addresses : Chicago, IL, through 1915; NYC, 1915-61.

Studied : Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; & with William Chase.

Member : Art Institute of Chicago;Fellow Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; National Institute Arts and Letters;SC; Union League Cl.,Chicago; National Academy;Salmagundi Club;National Arts Club;Century Association.

Exhibited : Art Institute of Chicago,1895-1939 (med.,1920); National Academy of Design,1902 (prize), 1931 (gold),1932 (prize), 1933 (prize),1937 (prize);St. louis Expo.,1904; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 19051907,1916-26;Corcoran Gallery, 1908-23, 1939;Carnegie Institute,1910 (prize); Allied Artists of America,1931 (gold).

Works : Art Institute of Chicago; Corcoran Gallery of Art; Richmond Art Association; Montclair Art Museum; Arkansas Art Museum;Toledo Museum of Arts; Chicago University; Mayo Fnd., Rochester, Minn.; Union League CL., Chicago.