![Joseph Christian Leyendecker - Academic Nude in the Académie Julian [1896]](http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1591/26706989765_444fa0f500_h.jpg)
Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874 - 1951), one of the most celebrated American illustrators of the first half of the twentieth century, studied at the Académie Julian in Paris from 1896-1897. Known for its excellence in academic figure training, it is here that Leyendecker turns away from crowded compositions executed from photographs in favour of single figure works done after live models in classic poses.
[Sotheby’s, New York - Oil on canvas, 82.2 x 58.7 cm]