Thomas Eakins was an American painter, photographer and teacher born in 1844 in Philadelphia. He attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Jefferson Medical College, wanting to become a surgeon. He spent time in Paris and Spain studying and learning art. When he returned to America, he began teaching at the Pennsylvania Academy, becoming a highly influential and popular professor known for his realistic style and encouragement of using photography. However, he was eventually fired for his belief in gender equality in teaching. Throughout his career he taught at several art schools and introduced the use of photography to American art studios. He is renowned for his portraits, scenes of Philadelphia, and nude studies painted in realistic outdoor settings.