Theodore Earl Butler
Theodore Earl Butler (American, 1861–1936) was one of America’s most innovative Impressionist artists, and was the son-in-law of famed painter
Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926).
Born in 1861, Butler enrolled in the Art Students League in New York, and then continued his studies at various art academies in Paris. While in Paris, Butler enrolled at La Grande-Chaumière, Atelier Colarossi, and at the Académie Julian, alongside
Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867–1947) and
Édouard Vuillard (French, 1868–1940). Butler studied under
Charles Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran (French, 1837–1917), whose studio began with 12 students, including Butler,
James Carroll Beckwith (American, 1852–1917), and
Will Low (American, 1853–1932). The following year,
John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925), a friend of
Paul César Helleu (French, 1859–1927), joined them. Carolus-Duran, who was also known to give free private lessons to painters, introduced his students to the work of Monet. Monet had moved to Giverny in 1883, and it was there that Butler visited him in the summer of 1888. Initially inspired by Monet, Butler eventually developed his own technique and style.
Still tied to Impressionist subject matter, Butler applied his own vivid, energetic brushwork, striking colors, and highly saturated pigments to his boldly executed compositions. The prestigious Vollard Gallery hosted a solo show for Butler in 1897. Butler then traveled to New York, where he executed his innovative and very well-received
Brooklyn Bridge painting. From that point forward, Butler turned from genre scenes to landscape painting. Butler participated in the Armory Show in Chicago in 1913, and the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco two years later.
He was a Founding member of the Society of Independent Artists.