Dan Weggeland

Danquart “Dan” Weggeland was born in Norway in 1827. Dan showed an interest in art at a young age and took lessons from a local painter. Later, Dan apprenticed with a painter for a short time before studying art at the Danish Royal Academy. After he completed his education Weggeland moved back to Norway where he worked odd jobs and took landscape painting lessons. Dan joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1855 and emigrated to America a few years later.

Upon arriving in the United States, Weggeland studied with two European portrait painters who taught him a smooth and refined technique. Dan saved enough money to travel west to Salt Lake City and sketched various scenes along the way – many of which became paintings. After he arrived in Utah, Dan made a living by painting scenes for the Salt Lake Theater. He continued to paint murals, landscapes, and religious art for the rest of his life. He died on June 2, 1918.

Dan Weggeland is best known for his murals and oil paintings. He painted murals for multiple Latter-day Saint temples although his best work was done for the Salt Lake Temple. In addition to his religious works, Weggeland also painted a substantial amount of pioneer scenes. He is often called the “Father of Utah Art.”