William Claus led an intriguing life and is known predominantly as the illustrator behind the Anne of Green Gables novel. Together with his wife, May, he created several drawings for its first edition.

He was born in Mainz, Germany, and emigrated to America sometime before 1880 - when he’s known to have lived in Boston. But he must have travelled back to Europe several times as he trained at the Académie Julian in Paris and undertook study trips to Italy.

While in Boston, he also studied under Emil Otto Grundmann (1844-1890) and exhibited several works at the Boston Art Club.