The following is from Christy Campbell whose source is Grace Quinlan Frankl Campbell, step daughter of the artist:
Walter H. Frankl was born March 23, 1888 in New York, NY, during the famous "great blizzard", to an Austrian and German Jewish immigrant family. He studied drama and art in Paris in the early 1900's. After completing his studies in Paris, Frankl would return to New York where he initially pursued theater and acting.
-The first artistic rebellion of the 20th century was the emergence of "The Eight", a group of eight artists who showed their work together in 1908 in New York City's Macbeth Gallery. Their rebellion against the subjects considered proper both excited and inspired Walter Frankl to pursue painting more seriously. In 1914, he rented a studio at 126 Washington Place which was practically next door to the famed studio of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in MacDougal Alley. Frankl, who was one of the original "Washington Square Players", continued with his acting but his painting was taking up more and more of his time. He began experimenting with portraits of characters he met in the Bowery and in Harlem like "Portrait of a Young Man" and "Harlem Blues". However, the greatest influence would come in 1913 at 69th Regiment Armory Show featuring 1300 paintings by American and European artist and from that point on painting became Frankl's passion.-
The inspiration for Walter Frankl's painting "In the Garden" came from two paintings that were being exhibited in 1914 at the National Academy of Design by American Impressionist Frederick Frieseke. Frieseke's influence would help young Frankl become more of a colorist which would remain with him for the rest of his career.
Just prior to the outbreak of World War I, Walter Frankl would meet the love of his life, Antoinette "Janet" White. Unfortunately, his romance and his painting career would be interrupted by WWI. He enlisted in the army and spent most of the war in France where he fought in one of the war's fiercest engagements with the Germans at Chateau Thierry, a battle that lasted for forty-one days of continuous action (May 31st to July 10th).
Walter Frankl returned to the United States broken hearted because Janet White, the love of his life, had married another man. He would soon meet Katherine Townsend Chapman, a wealthy Cooperstown socialite who took him in as her friend and protege. In 1922, after hearing that Janet White's husband had passed away, Frankl renewed their relationship and they were married in 1923. Janet and Walter remained close to Katie Townsend spending their summers on her Brookwood Farm in Cooperstown, where Walter maintained studio.
Struggling to make ends meet, the Frankls briefly lived in Westport, Connecticut and then moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. Since they couldn't afford to pay rent, their friends loaned them their apartments while they were away. However, this arrangement of constantly moving made things worse because he didn't have a place to paint. The Frankls finally rented their own apartment on a 5th floor walk-up of 217 W. 10th Street, where they would live for several years.
Walter Frankl began exhibiting at the National Academy of Design with limited success. He also began exhibiting at Milch Gallery, which was one of the few galleries in New York specializing in American art. This prestigious gallery represented America's most important and successful artists (Chile Hassam, Ernest Lawson, Louis Ritman, Thomas Moran, John H. Twachtman, etc.), but times were difficult for most artists living in the city and for an unknown, it was impossible. With the ending of WWI, the world and its appreciation for art had changed. Life as an artist had become even more challenging and confusing then ever.
Walter Frankl had survived WWI, the Stock Market crash of 1929 and the depression. Finally, his hard work was beginning to pay off. He and his paintings that were hanging at Milch Gallery and his exhibits at the National Academy were being mentioned in the American Art Annual (1898-1933). He had received several commissions from his admirers in Cooperstown to paint portraits of their children. This wasn't the success he had strived for but it was a start. Rather then moving to Cooperstown, the Frankls would remain in the city determined to maintain a studio in New York to take advantage of recent appreciation for his work.
Walter traveled to his studio on Brookwood Farm alone to complete his commissions leaving Janet in New York with his mother. She didn't like traveling or staying in hotels which was fine with him because he was able to move around Cooperstown society as a bachelor. He usually stayed at the Tunicliff Inn which put him in the center of town. He loved Cooperstown and its families, their stories, their history and their relationships. He was also a real charmer and he loved the ladies, who also loved him. As he grew older, his portrait commissions of the Cooperstown's children were done from photographs rather than life.
Although, Walter Frankl never achieved the success he wanted or deserved, he was able to fulfill his passion and dream of becoming a respected artist. On May 17, 1963, Walter Frankl would die of cancer in New York City. Afterwards, four of his lady admirers came to call on Janet, who was then living at 1486 Second Avenue, over a fish market.

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton