Charles-Emile-August Durand was born in Lille, France in 1837. He studied for two years under François Souchon, a student of David, and fell under the spell of the old masters to whom he was exposed at the Lille Musee des Beaux-Arts. In 1853 he went to Paris, took the name of Carolus-Duran, decided against additional academic training, and began instead to paint from the Old Masters at the Louvre. This was a very bold move for a young artist beginning his career, as the rule of academic painting was still very strong and the need for association with the studio of an established painter was considered essential to success. Indeed, Carolus-Duran struggled in the beginning, and after returning to Lille for financial reasons,...