US painter, a leading realist. His most memorable subjects are medical and sporting scenes, characterized by strong contrasts between light and shade, as in his controversial The Gross Clinic (1875; Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia), a group portrait of a surgeon, his assistants, and students. In his later years he painted distinguished portraits.
Blue stands for the night sky and for water as a source of life. White represents peace. Red indicates the life-force. Green recalls nature and fertility. Effective date: 11 October 1991.