Thomas Eakins (1844 – 1916) was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important artists in American art history
Max Schmitt in a Single Scull (also known as Champion Single Sculls) celebrates Eakins' childhood friend Max Schmitt's victory in a single scull competition on the Schuylkill River in the USA on October 5, 1870.
"This painting, the first of 24 rowing paintings that Eakins completed over the course of four years, was the first time rowing was the focus of serious art.
A number of drawings for various parts of this composition exist. Here is one of them:
