Edwin Lord Weeks

Edwin Lord Weeks, born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1849, came from a wealthy family of spice and tea merchants. His passion for art emerged early, with his first known painting created at the age of eighteen. Soon after, Weeks began traveling to paint, starting with South America, then moving on to Egypt, Persia, and Morocco.

In 1874, Weeks relocated to Paris with his wife to further his training under French orientalists. He studied privately under Léon Bonnat and was influenced by Jean-Léon Gérôme of the École des Beaux-Arts. Weeks quickly established himself as a prominent American orientalist, capturing the essence of Eastern cultures through his art.

Weeks made his first trip to India in 1882-83, becoming the first known American artist to paint in the country. His work from this period, which includes scenes from British Indian cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Agra, was featured in his book 'From the Black Sea through Persia and India'. He returned to India in 1887, exploring regions such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and documenting life in the princely states through detailed paintings and sketches.

Highly regarded in his time, Weeks was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1896. His works are now housed in museums across America and Europe.
Weeks passed away in Paris in 1903.