1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Alexander, John White

ALEXANDER, JOHN WHITE (1856–  ), American painter, was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of October 1856. He was left an orphan when very young, became an illustrator for Harper’s Magazine, studied in Europe, became a pupil of the Royal Academy at Munich, and also worked in Venice, in Holland and in Paris, where he attracted much attention by his exhibition at the Salon of two female portraits entitled “Gris” and “Noir.” He became a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts (Paris), of the National Academy of Design (New York), of the International Society (London), and of the Vienna and Munich Societies of Painters. In 1901 he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He executed decorative panels for the Congressional Library, Washington, D.C., and a large decoration for the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and his works include numerous portraits and subject pictures.