Władysław T. Benda

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Władysław T. Benda
Władysław Benda, 1900
Born15 January 1873
Died1948 (aged 74–75)
NationalityPolish
Known forpainter, illustrator, designer
SpouseRomola Campfield
Children2
RelativesHelena Modjeska (aunt)

Władysław Teodor "W.T." Benda (15 January 1873 – 30 November 1948) was a Polish painter, illustrator, and designer.[1]

Early life

The son of musician Jan Szymon Benda, and a nephew of the actress Helena Modrzejewska (known in the United States as Helena Modjeska), W.T. Benda studied art at the Kraków College of Technology and Art in his native Poland and at the School of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria. He came to the United States in 1899,[2] to visit his Aunt Helena, who then lived in California. He stayed, and moved to New York City in 1902, where he attended the Art Students League of New York and the William Merritt Chase School. While there, Benda studied under Robert Henri and Edward Penfield.

He joined the

Architectural League in 1916, and became a naturalized American in 1911. He was also a member of the National Society of Mural Painters
.

Personal life

He remained in NYC for the rest of his life. Benda married Romola Campfield, and they had two daughters, Eleonora and Basia, who were both artists.[3]

Work

WWI recruitment poster Polish Army in France created by Władysław Benda

Starting in 1905, Benda was primarily a

Polonia Restituta’ decoration by the Polish government following World War I.[6]

Beginning in 1914, Benda was also an accomplished mask maker and costume designer. His sculpted,

synonymous for any lifelike mask, whether it was of his design or not. Benda also created "grotesque" masks, which were more fantasy or caricature in nature. Benda created the original mask design for the movie The Mask of Fu Manchu, which was originally published as a twelve part serial in Collier's from May 7, 1932 through July 23, 1932. The cover of the May 7 issue presented a stunning portrait by Benda. In the latter stages of his career, Benda spent less time doing illustration and more time making masks.[6]

At Busby Berkeley's behest, Benda created scores of masks for the spectacular conclusion of Broadway Serenade (1939), including the faces of “all the great composers”.[7] According to TCM, that project earned Berkeley a contract with MGM.[7]

Articles by and about Benda and his masks appeared regularly in many of the same magazines and publications that carried his illustrations. In the 1930s, he authored the Encyclopædia Britannica entry on masks. He also wrote a book, Masks,[8] a study of his own designs and unique construction techniques.[9]

The Polish Museum of America and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library possess collections of Benda's posters for the relief effort in Poland.[6][10]

See also

  • List of Poles

References

  1. ^ Dawdy, Doris Ostrander (1985). Artists of the American West; a Biographical Dictionary. Chicago: Sage Books. p. 21.
  2. .
  3. ^ Biography of Władysław Benda at the Kosciuszko Foundation
  4. ^ Reed, Walt (2001). The Illustrator in America: 1860-2000. New York: The Society of Illustrators. p. 132.
  5. ^ a b c Kosciuszko Foundation: Wladyslaw Teodor Benda, Memorial Exhibition
  6. ^ a b "Broadway Serenade". www.tcm.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  7. OCLC 937658
  8. ^ "Benda, Wladyslaw". The Billboard: 48. December 11, 1948.
  9. ^ "Search - Pritzker Military Museum & Library - Chicago".

External links