September 20, 1889 – March 9, 1984
William Peter Welsh was an American portrait painter, muralist, and illustrator, as well as a decorated soldier who served in both World Wars and the Mexican border campaign in 1916.
Among Welsh’s most notable works is his “Lexington Street Scene”, a 24-foot-long, 6-foot-high mural that was thought to have been destroyed during the demolition of the Kentuckian Hotel. He repainted his famous mural of him in 1975.
He created a series of European-style advertising posters for Pullman sleeping cars and won awards and accolades for the campaign.
He has illustrated magazine covers for Woman’s Home Companion, Hearst International Publications and Cosmopolitan.
He died at the age of 95 in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky.
