Benda, Ladislaus Theodore
Painter, illustrator and sculptor. Born Jan. 15, 1873 in Poznan, Poland. Son of John S. (pianist and composer) and Xaviera (Sikorska) Benda. Educated at school of technology and Academy of Art, Krakow; art schools at Vienna, San Francisco and New York. Came to United States, 1899; became naturalized citizen in 1911. Made illustrations for Century magazine, Scribner's Cosmopolitan, McClure's, Collier's, etc. and for many books. Decorative painter. Creator of new type of masks which are used on the stage under the name of Benda masks. Painted many pictures which were destroyed by fire in Jan., 1931 at Alliance College, Cambridge Springs, Pa. In 1936 painted Queen Hedwig for the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York; another painting -- "Father Skorupka" -- which is in the museum of Polish R. C. U. in Chicago, Ill. Recently painted Polish Heroes of the War of Revolution. Member of Architectural League of America, New York; Society of Illustrators, Society of Mural Painters, Decorated with the order of Polonia Restituta by the Polish Government. Transposed the Slav-soul into his works, Married Miss Campfield of New York in 1920. Studio and home, 27 West 67th St., New York, N. Y.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

Benda, Wladyslaw (Ladislaus) Theodor -- artist

Wladyslaw Theodor Benda (1873-1948) was a Polish American painter and illustrator. Born in Poznan, Poland, he graduated from the Krakow Technical School and the Academy of Fine Arts. His later studies were at art academies in Vienna, San Francisco and New York City. In addition to his fine art paintings he drew many striking illustrations for Scribners, Cosmopolitan, and McClure magazines.

Benda was also known for his exotic, colorful face masks which were not only popular as a decorative work of art -- they were also used in early twentieth century American plays. His masks were featured in "Greenwich Village Follies" and in Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape."

From: Wally West