louis betts was an american portrait painter born in little rock, arkansas in 1873. he was the son of an artist and began studying painting at a young age. betts studied with william merritt chase at the pennsylvania academy of fine arts in 1894. he worked in chicago and new york, and was made a full member of the national academy of design by 1915. betts served as president of the salmagundi club and vice president of the national ins…