WILLIAM McGREGOR PAXTON (1869-1941) Self Portrait, circa 1898 Oil on wood panel, 8 3/4 x 5 inches
student of Dennis Miller Bunker and of Bunker's teacher, Jean-Leon Gerome, Paxton's paintings, the focal points of which usually were beautiful women, often have been likened to paintings by 17th century Dutch artists. (In fact, Paxton had a hand in Philip Leslie Hale's book on Vermeer.) In this self portrait, the artist shows himself as a typically sophisticated Bostonian in black tie and with an overcoat raffishly over his shoulders, but casually wearing a brown fedora. It is very freshly painted, a wonderful self-characterization of the artist early in his career.
student of Dennis Miller Bunker and of Bunker's teacher, Jean-Leon Gerome, Paxton's paintings, the focal points of which usually were beautiful women, often have been likened to paintings by 17th century Dutch artists. (In fact, Paxton had a hand in Philip Leslie Hale's book on Vermeer.) In this self portrait, the artist shows himself as a typically sophisticated Bostonian in black tie and with an overcoat raffishly over his shoulders, but casually wearing a brown fedora. It is very freshly painted, a wonderful self-characterization of the artist early in his career.