William Franklin Draper

Infobox Artist
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name = William Franklin Draper


imagesize = 180px
caption = William Franklin Draper
birthname = William Franklin Draper
birthdate = December 24, 1912
location = Hopedale, MA
deathdate = October 26, 2003
deathplace =
nationality = American
field =
training =
movement =
works = Portrait of John F. Kennedy
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awards = Bronze Star; Lifetime Achievement award: "Portrait Society of America".

William Franklin Draper (December 24, 1912 - October 26, 2003) was Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, and an American painter.Cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/artist/d/draper/draper1.htm|title=The Art of William Franklin Draper - Navy Art Collection|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher= Naval Historical Center|year=2004|author= Naval Historical Center|language=English]

Early life

Draper was born in Hopedale, Massachusetts on December 24, 1912. His parents were Clare H. Draper and Mathilda Engamn Draper. After first studying piano, he decided to instead, choose painting as his career. Draper attended the Pomfret School in Connecticut, and later Harvard University. After Harvard, he attended the National Academy of Design in New York, and the Cape Art School in Massachusetts. Following his education, he went to Spain to study briefly, and then moved to France, where he attended the Grand Cahumiere. In 1937, he studied sculpture with George Demetrius, a Boston sculptor, and Jon Corbino in New York.

Naval career

In 1942, Draper entered the Naval Reserves as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. After his initial training, Draper was assigned to the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit in Boston. Following his service in Boston, he transferred into the Naval Art Section, and was dispatched to Alaska, where he spent nearly half a year painting in the Aleutian Islands Chain. He was in Amchitka when the Japanese invaded during World War II, and his paintings depict the attacks, as seen from his close-range foxhole.Cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/wwii/alaska/alaska7.htm|title=Alaska during the Pacific War|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher= Naval Historical Center|year=2001|author= Naval Historical Center|language=English] Draper painted while dealing with the wind and Arctic weather, which made painting difficult, as he had to wear gloves to keep from getting frostbite.

After Draper returned from Alaska, he was requested as the artist for the portrait of Rear Admiral J.R. Beardall, then Superintendent of the Naval Academy. Following the completion of the portrait, he served in a variety of other areas in the Pacific, and commissioned to paint portraits of several other admirals.

After the battle of Bougainville, Draper was assigned to the USS Yorktown, and while on duty, painted the series of air attacks on Palau, the landings at Hollandia, and air strikes on Truk. Draper also covered invasions of Saipan and Guam aboard the USS Tennessee. During his tour on the Tennessee, the ship was hit three times by enemy fire, and they were forced to land at Guam.

Draper was awarded the Bronze Star for his Naval services, and left the Navy in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander. Returning to painting, he became a well known American artist, with subjects ranging from John F. Kennedy (painted in 1962), Richard M. Nixon, (1981), the Shah of Iran (painted in 1967), James Michener (1979), Henry Kaiser, and Dr. Richard E. Winter (1992).Cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/theydrewfire/artists/draper.html |title=They Drew Fire|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher=Public Broadcasting Corporation|year=2000|author=PBS|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.rogallery.com/Draper/w-205/Draper-winter.htm|title=Portrait of Dr. Richard E. Winter|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher=RoGallery|year=1992|author=RoGallery|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/hall2/jfks.htm|title=John F. Kennedy Portrait|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher=Smithsonian Institution |year=1966|author=Smithsonian Institution |language=English]

In 1999, Draper received a lifetime achievement award from the Portrait Society of America.Cite web|url=http://www.blogofdeath.com/archives/000523.html|title=William F. Draper|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 9|publisher=blogofdeath|year=2003|author=blogofdeath|language=English]

Draper died on October 26, 2003 at the age of 90.

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References