Stokely Webster was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1912. He left his birthplace to travel to Paris with his family, where he was inspired by the French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. It was at this period of his career that he embarked on his own efforts at plein-air cityscapes, a style and theme that would stay with him the rest of his life. After returning to America in 1924 he continued studies for the next ten years, seeking to educate himself in a succession of art-school courses.

In 1936 he studied for six months with Robert Henri's disciple Wayman Adams, learning portrait painting and honing his landscape technique. He combined the high-valued colors of Impressionism with the luxurious painterly means of Henri and John...