Best known for his impressionist portraits, Henry Salem Hubbell painted works of art that may be considered 'decorations', painted at a time when that term encompassed none of the pejorative that it has gained over this last century. His work is exemplary of a 'genteel aestheticism' favored by some of the American painters at Giverny after the turn of the century, including Hubbell, and a reflection of the influence of Vermeer-inspired works. Elegant young women were often his selected subjects.

Born in Paola Kansas, Hubbell studied at Art Institute of Chicago, at the Academié Julian in Paris from 1898-99 with Jean Paul Laurens, Benjamin-Constant, Louis Collin, at the Academie Carmen with James Whistler, and in Madrid, Spain. From 1908-1910, he was part of the American Colony of Impressionists at Giverny, France. He returned to the U.S. and worked as an illustrator for Woman’s Home Companion then directed the 110 school painting and decorating at Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh from 1918-21. He moved to Florida in 1924 and was head of the art department at the University of Miami beginning in 1925.

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