Eilshemius, Louis Michel - Also known as the "Mahatma of Manhattan's Montparnasse", Louis Michel Eilshemius was born on his family's estate-Laurel Hills Manor-in North Arlington, New Jersey, on February 4, 1864. Eilshemius attended private schools in both New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, as well as the Handelschule in Dresden, Germany. In 1882 he returned to America and began studying agriculture at Cornell University; however, he did not complete his degree. From 1884-1886 Eilshemius studied at the Art Students' League in New York, and then from 1886-88 at the Académie Julian in Paris, France. His father's death in 1892 provided Eilshemius with enough funding to maintain a studio in New York City while also traveling to Europe, North Africa, Samoa, South Seas, as well as the Southern United States. <br /><br />Although many of his poems, short stories, and paintings began to appear privately printed in 1895, Eilshemius did not feel he was getting the recognition that he deserved, and he began writing hundreds of letters to local newspapers describing his greatness and importance. His excessive writing and incessant bragging earned him the nicknames "Mahatma of Manhattan's Montparnasse" and the "Transcendental Eagle of the Arts." Eilshemius's unique style was distrusted by many of his contemporary artists, however in retrospect it foreshadowed the early American avant-garde movements. <br /><br />In 1921, Eilshemius gave up his practice of art, and in 1932 he was paralyzed completely in an automobile accident. In an ironic twist, after this accident Eilshemius's artwork was suddenly widely recognized and exhibited in more than 25 shows in New York and resulted in huge gallery sales and publicity. Unfortunately, his condition prevented him from finally enjoying his success. He contracted pneumonia in 1941 which eventually resulted in his death at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.