William James Glacken was born in 1870. Glackens took night courses at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and studied with Robert Henri. He found work as an illustrator for the Philidelphia Record. In 1865, Glackens moved to New York City and worked for the New York Herald and the New York World. He was sent in 1898 to Cuba by another employer, McClure's, to cover the Spanish-American War. Upon his arrival back in New York, Galckens began to focus on his easel painting. In 1908 Glackens exhibited his work in the only show of "The Eight", at the Macbeth Gallery. However, after this show, he would be associated more with the Ashcan School. His mature paletter and subject matter later in his career earned him the nickname "American Renoir". In 1912 Glackens went abroad to pbuy paintings for a patron, Albert Barnes. The Barnes Foundation Merion, PA now holds the major Imperrsionist collection that Glacken acquired. "Chez Mouquin"is Glacken's own masterpiece of Impressionism. The painting shows a couple seated in a French cafe and displays Glacken's drawing ability and exqusite detail. He died in 1938.

Biography courtesy of The Caldwell Gallery, www.antiquesandfineart.com/caldwell