Background
Weggeland was born in the city of Kristiansand, Norway.
Weggeland was born in the city of Kristiansand, Norway.
At age sixteen, he began studying with a portrait painter in Christiana and at age 20 he went to Copenhagen where he eventually studied at the Danish Royal Academy of Artist
After two years in Copenhagen, Weggeland returned to Christiana, where he worked as a portrait painter and did some work for theatres. He served as a church missionary in England from 1857 to 1861. He then went to New York City where he studied with Daniel Huntington and George P. A. Healey.
In 1862, Weggeland went on to Florence, Nebraska, from which he left in August for Utah Territory.
Weggeland made sketches on his journey to Utah. During his early days in Utah Territory, Weggeland would occasionally trade a painting for a pair of well-knit socks.
This commission came from Dimick B. Huntington. He had also served as an art instructor to most of the church"s art missionaries before they went to France.
Weggeland died in Salt Lake City, Utah.