SEURAT, GEORGES (1859-1891).

French painter and draughtsman. Born in Paris. In late 1870's trained at Ecole des Beaux-Arts under Lehmann. 1879-80 military service. For next few years developed novel manner of tonal drawing and experimented with colour theory (Chevreul, Root, etc.) in small paintings. Presence of La Grande-Jatte at 1886 Impressionist exhibition established him as a leading figure of Parisian avant-garde. This position sustained by regular exhibition at Independents (1884-91, retrospective 1892) and Les Vingt (1887, 1889, 1891, retrospective 1892) of large figure compositions, as well as marines painted during summer campaigns on Channel coast. Later work influenced by theorist Charles Henry, increasingly criticized as too arcane.