Overview
Tony Robert Fleury was an academically trained artist, who achieved continued success at the Salon, especially in the 1870s. He was also a professor at the progressive Académie Julian in Paris, and his own studio included many well-known painters from across Europe, namely Edouard Vuillard, Lovis Corinth and Sir George Clausen. In 1904, he succeeded William Bouguereau in becoming President of the Société des artistes français. While best known for his powerful history paintings, which bolstered his reputation, at the end of his life (possibly under the influence of his more avant-garde students), his style shifted to become less academic, with an emphasis on looser brushstrokes and a vibrant palette.