Julian Alden Weir (1852–1919) was a major American painter and one of the key figures in the rise of American Impressionism. Born at West Point, New York, into a family of artists, he was the son of Robert Walter Weir and grew up in a disciplined artistic environment. He studied at New York’s National Academy of Design and later in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts under Jean-Léon Gérôme, where he developed a strong academic foundation. Although he initially disliked French Impressionism, his style gradually changed as he became more interested in light, atmosphere, and personal responses to nature. Back in the United States, Weir worked as a painter, teacher, and organizer, helping found the Society of American Artists. His Branchville, Connecticut farm became the center of his mature career, inspiring landscapes and attracting fellow artists. Weir later helped found The Ten American Painters, a leading Impressionist group in America. By the time of his death in 1919, he was widely respected for combining technical discipline with lyrical, modern sensibility. He also experimented with etching and exhibited widely, and his reputation grew steadily as critics praised both his artistry and his leadership in the American art world.