Using letters and diaries, this book describes the day-to-day experiences of American artists thrust into the unusual world of the Paris atelier. It is illustrated with works by Alexandre Cabanel, John Singer Sargent and Thomas Eakins. The virtuosity and beauty of French and American academic painting are spotlighted by the author, who aims to challenge the chauvinism in American art history by revealing the extent of French influence on the American painters who sought training in Paris.