After the Bath

Canadian painter Paul Peel was the son of a marble-cutter and drawing teacher. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy, Philadelphia; the R.A. Schools, London; and the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris under the famous Gerome and others. He returned to London, Ontario, and Toronto for a short time about 1890, but was chiefly active in Paris. He travelled widely in Canada and in Europe, exhibiting as a member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Royal Canadian Academy. He later returned to Paris, where he died in October 1892. Before his death, he had achieved a considerable success for his technique in such academic subjects as “After the Bath.” His sentimental studies of children, such as “'The Modest Model” and today’s painting “After the Bath,” followed the carefully modelled prescription of the Académie. “After the Bath” won Peel a medal at the 1890 Salon, and displays his skill using light and colour. Like several of his works, it evolved from a carefully composed photograph; this practice was recommended by Gérôme but Peel’s use of it has not yet been fully assessed. At the time of his death, Peel appeared to be changing his style toward Impressionism. However, he did not live to develop his art beyond its academic sentimentalism. His lung infection was likely induced by overwork and exhaustion. Many of his works now hang in the Art Gallery of Ontario.

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