A painting of a woman with red hair Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran - Untitled - 1972.181.9 - Smithsonian American Art Museum

Carolus-Duran, born Charles Auguste Émile Durand in Lille, France on 4 July 1837 and died on 17 February 1917, was a French painter and influential art teacher. He is associated with the realist and naturalist movements in art. Carolus-Duran studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and gained recognition for his portraits. He became a prominent portraitist and attracted a wealthy clientele, including members of the French aristocracy and the international elite. His portraits were characterised by a skilful use of light and shadow and a focus on capturing the psychological depth of his subjects. In addition to his successful career as a painter, Carolus-Duran played an important role as an art educator. He established his own art studio where he taught a generation of artists who went on to become prominent figures in the art world. Among his notable students was John Singer Sargent, an American portrait painter who achieved great acclaim for his work. Carolus-Duran also influenced the art world through his involvement with the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, a French art society. He served as its president and contributed to the organisation's influence on the Paris Salon, an important art exhibition. Although his work is sometimes overshadowed by that of his students, Carolus-Duran remains an important figure in the history of 19th-century French art, particularly for his contributions to portraiture and his influence on the next generation of artists.