William Paxton (1869 - 1941)

William Paxton

William McGregor Paxton was an American painter. He was known for his realistic, highly polished portraits and genre scenes that often depicted wealthy, fashionable women in elegant settings.

Paxton studied at the Cowles Art School in Boston and the Academie Julian in Paris, where he was influenced by the work of the French Academic painters. He later became a prominent member of the Boston School of painters, who were known for their meticulous attention to detail and focus on classical technique.

Paxton's paintings were highly sought after by collectors and he received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the Lippincott Prize from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1906 and the National Academy of Design's Altman Prize in 1913. He also taught at several art schools, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Art Students League of New York.

Today, Paxton's paintings are held in many important public and private collections, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence contemporary realist painters.