César Gemayel is recognized as one of the pioneers of Lebanese modernism. Considered to be a member of the second generation of Lebanese modern painters, Gemayel marks a transition from the commissioned, academic portraits of his predecessors to the portrayal of landscapes, nudes, and still life in oil, watercolor, and pastel and his work is characterized by an experimentation with the light, color, and loose brushstroke associated with the tradition of European Impressionism.

Born in the village of 'Ain al-Touffaha, near Bikfaya, Gemayel originally sought to continue in the family business by studying pharmacology at the American University of Beirut. While a student, Gemayel apprenticed in the atelier of the Lebanese pain...