An entirely new exploration of the life and career of the expat American artist Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855-1919), who spent nearly all his life in Paris, and whose oil paintings feature in private collections and those of many major museums on both sides of the Atlantic. Stewart's paintings are highly engaging and attractive, covering a broad cross-section of later nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American Expat Parisian high society, its genteel past-times, and travel, in a style of painting that was uniquely his own, and that was lauded in both Europe and America. This new volume presents over seventy major paintings, pastels and drawings across thematic sections, with a new introduction to Stewart's life, career, and world through essays by major specialists on nineteenth and early twentieth century American art and history. The authors look variously at Stewart's early career and training at the École des Beaux-Arts, his later tutelage under French and Spanish masters, Eduardo Zamacoïs, Jean-Léon Gérôme, and Raimundo Madrazo, his family's involvement in the production of sugar; then the world of the American Expat society in which Stewart circulated, and the evolution Stewart's later style, in the mid 1880s towards multi-figured, narrative scenes of his family, friends and meticulous depictions of their costumes; then for a brief period later the sensuous Arcadian nudes bathed in sunlight, celebrating the attributes of Diana and the Bachenates. Collectively these provide the first major exploration of Stewart's world and work with, new contribution to our understanding of the importance and legacy of his art, and his advocation for his community of fellow American artists in France. SELLING POINTS: . Scholarly volume is a major contribution to our understanding of the importance and legacy of Stewart's art, and his support for his community of fellow American artists in France. . Stewart is most famous for his portraits of wealthy expatriate Americans, which included Sarah Bernhardt and the Astors, and for his large-scale paintings capturing the life of well-bred Parisians. . Richly illustrated book features a stunning array of comparative images, other artworks, archival and historic views, ephemera such as original photographs and photogravures of famous social events, and posters. . An important and timely addition to the published material on Julius LeBlanc Stewart as well as on American and European - especially expatriate American art and artists generally. 150 colour illustrations
