III. The Paris Paintings, 1887-1890
While studying at the
Académie
Julian in Paris
during the years 1888-1890, William Trego produced several paintings based on
the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. As was the case with his American Civil War
paintings, he carefully researched the military actions he sought to portray
and paid close attention to details of uniforms and equipment. The large military
displays set up as part of the
Exposition Universelle of 1889 provided him with a wealth
of information. Trego succeeded in exhibiting two of his Franco-Prussian War paintings
at the annual Paris Salon, where they were compared favorably to the work of
the French history painter, Edouard Detaille, a significant accomplishment for
a young American student.
