William Weeks Hall (American/Louisiana 1895-1958)
William Weeks Hall was the only child of Lily Weeks and Gilbert Lewis Hall, the third generation owners of the Shadows-on-the-Teche plantation in New Iberia (today the only National Trust property in Louisiana). Although he never graduated from high school, Hall’s artistic abilities were recognized when he earned scholarships to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Hall had a deep appreciation for the Shadows and restored the home and garden under the guidance of New Orleans architect Richard Koch. Noted for his captivating personality and determined to draw national attention to his home, Weeks entertained prominent artists, writers and filmmakers of the day including Henry Miller, Lyle Saxon, Cecil B. DeMille, Anais Nin, D.W. Griffith and Walt Disney.
Hall received favorable acclaim for the 1928 exhibition of his paintings at the Delgado Museum of Art (today New Orleans Museum of Art). Sadly, a car accident abruptly ended Hall’s artistic career, resulting in the rarity of his paintings.
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