James Carroll Beckwith was a portrait, genre and landscape painter born in 1852. He studied at the National Academy of Design, NYC, in 1871 as well as Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. While living in Paris, Beckwith shared a studio with Sargent. They both assisted a former teacher, Emile Carolus-Duran, in painting ceiling decoration in the Louvre. He also exhibited at the Paris Salon four times between the years 1877-87. In 1910 Beckwith moved to Italy for four years where he worked on plein-air landscapes that were full of sun and color. Although most of his work was basically academic, he felt a strong Impressionistic impression. Beckwith was also a highly respected teacher at the Art Students League in NYC, where he taught an antiques course. Unfortunately, due to poor health, Beckwith committed suicide in 1917. Most of his paintings were subsequently auctioned off in New York proceeding his death.