Greek born William Spencer Bagdatopoulus (1884-1965) spent his childhood in the Netherlands, where he began studying art. His teenage years were devoted to traveling, studying, and painting, eventually leading him to London where he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Arts in 1909. After serving with the British Army during World War I, Bagdatopoulos was commissioned by The Times of India Press to tour the country on its behalf. From 1924-26 he traveled to every part of India, painting images of important cultural sights. His art was featured in the Times of India annuals, as well as in advertisements for the magazine and travel posters for the Indian Railways Promotion Bureau.