July 25, 1844

Thomas Eakins (July 25, 1844 to June 25, 1916), one of the great American artists, had the support of a comfortable middle class family throughout his life. In fact, at the Eakins family home in Philadelphia, Thomas had the entire fourth floor for his studio. His father put in writing that

Thomas Eakins will have the right to bring to his studio his models, his pupils, his sitters and whomsoever he will, and both Benjamin Eakins [his father] and Thomas Eakins, recognizing the necessity and usage of professional secrecy, it is understood that the coming of persons to the studio is not to be the subject of comment or question by the family.

This quote was quoted in the book Thomas Eakins: Art, Medicine, and Sexuality in Nineteenth-century Philadelphia written by Amy Beth Werbel (2007). And that is also where we found out that the painting below was of this same family home. The gentleman standing is Eakins' father, Benjamin.

Les Joueurs d’echecs” (1876) by Thomas Eakins (1844-1916),  is done in oil on wood. 

Here is another painting that features chess players. It is by Charles Bargue (1825 -1883) Eakins was obsessed with getting each detail accurately.  We may wonder if the dog below was present on the French terrace. We cannot wonder if the cat on the carpet of the Eakins family home was gray.