| Greta Kempton | ||
| Birth Date: March 22, 1903 |
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| Death Date: December 10, 1991 Artist Gallery |
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| Born Martha Greta Kempton, she studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts before immigrating to the United States around 1926. Her style was reminiscent of Rembrandt, Rubens and other European masters.
Kempton became well-known in Washington following the unveiling in 1947 of her portrait of Drucie Snyder, the daughter of Treasury Secretary John W. Snyder. Through Snyder, Kempton gained introduction to other high officials of the Truman administration. Later in 1947, she painted a portrait of Drucie Snyder’s friend, Margaret Truman and was also commissioned to paint a portrait of the President himself; the first of five Kempton paintings for which Mr. Truman posed. This became the official White House portrait of President Truman.
One of the greatest unheralded portrait artists of the 20th century, Kempton also painted floral, still-life, landscapes and character studies.
Kempton remained active as a painter will into her eighties.
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