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 institute of arts and letters. his portrait subjects included doctors william j. and charles h. mayo, george eastman, george mundelein, and j. hamilton lewis. he died in 1961.
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