E Blashfield (1848-1936)

Born in New York in 1848, Edwin Blashfield detoured from his plan to enter Harvard and instead moved to Paris, intending to study under Gerome at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  Unable to gain immediate admission because of his minimal training, Blashfield worked under Bonnat. During this formative period, he was also inspired by the painters William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Puvis de Chavannes.

While in France, Blashfield spent many summers in the countryside, often in the company of his friend and fellow artist, Milne Ramsey.  He began exhibiting his work at the Paris Salon and at the Royal Academy in London during the 1870s.  Although he had adopted numerous tenets of Gérôme's style--especially his emphasis on high finish, solid draftsmanship and the accurate portrayal of detail--Blashfield eschewed the Middle Eastern subjects favored by Gérôme, turning instead to historical genre scenes. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1874-1892 and also at the Royal Academy in London.

He continued his travels through Europe eventually returning and establishing a studio in New York where he became well known for his large-scale painting done on commission for the most prominent families.

He is noted for the great central dome in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Source: AskArt