William J. Glackens was a distinguished American artist. His contributions to the history of American art include his participation in the exhibition of "The Eight," the group of artists also known as the Ashcan School for their realistic portrayals of city life and their opposition to the American art establishment; his organization of American paintings for the Armory Show of 1913; and his important acquisitions for the collection of Albert C. Barnes. Although best known as a painter, Glackens was also an illustrator, and his vigorous, humorous drawings represent a vital aspect of the graphic tradition in American art.

William Glackens was born in Philadelphia on 13 March 1870, the third and youngest child of Samuel and Elizabeth Finn Glackens. He attended Central High School in Philadelphia, where he met John Sloan and Barnes. With his brother, Louis, who became an illustrator and cartoonist, he exhibited his wit and artistic talent...