Frank Weston Benson, frequently referred to as Frank W. Benson, (March 24, 1862 – November 15, 1951) is an American artist from Salem, Massachusetts known for his Realistic portraits, American Impressionist paintings, watercolors and etchings.
He begins his career painting portraits of distinguished families and murals for the Library of Congress
Some of his best known paintings (Eleanor, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Summer, Rhode Island School of Design Museum) depict his daughters outdoors at Benson's summer home, Wooster Farm, on the island of North Haven, Maine.
He also produces numerous oil, wash and watercolor paintings and etchings of wildfowl and landscapes.
In 1880, Benson begins to study at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston under both Otto Grundmann and Frederic Crowninshield.
In 1883 he travels to Paris to study at the Académie Julian.
He enjoys a distinguished career as an instructor and department head at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
He is a founding member of the Ten American Painters, American Academy of Arts and Letters and The Guild of Boston Artists.
