A fresh exploration of the life and work of American expatriate artist Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855-1919), whose depictions of expat high society in Paris won acclaim in Europe and the United States and still feature in museums and collections on both sides of the Atlantic. Stewart’s oil paintings capture the opulent lifestyle of his charmed circle—their soirees, excursions, and leisure pursuits. The book presents over seventy major paintings, pastels, and drawings. Its nine essays look at Stewart’s training at the École des Beaux-Arts, his tutelage under French and Spanish masters, and his family’s involvement in the production of sugar in Cuba. They examine his multi-figured narrative scenes and his depiction of Black people, high fashion, and allegorical nudes. More than a feast for the eye, the book offers new insights into the links between Gilded Age America and Belle Époque France. Contributors include Michael Crane, William DeGregorio, Jim Dicke, Vincent DiGirolamo, Jacqueline Francis, Barbara Gallati, Valerie Ann Leeds, Campbell Mobley, and editor James W. Tottis. (166)
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