Paul had a remarkable life that spanned the last century and he lived mostly in or near New York.
He was a man who held timeless ideals and beliefs which were supported by his friendship with E M Forester whom he admired for his views on tolerance, sympathy and kindness.
Paul's great patron was his brother-in-law, Lincoln Kirstein, the co-founder of the American School of Ballet with George Balanchine.
Lincoln wrote the first essay calling Paul Cadmus, George Tooker and Jared French 'Magic Realists'.
Though he found support for his early work the art world shifted in the 1950's and for most of his life Paul's carefully rendered tempera paintings were ignored by the critics. Regardless, Paul was eventually acknowledged by his peers when he was selected to become a lifetime member of the Academy of Arts and Letters.
In his latter years Paul became very fond of Chuck Close. Chuck, who painted several portraits of Paul, conducted a wonderful interview of Paul for Paul's 90th birthday at the New York Academy of Design where Paul was a an alumni and member.
In every century, history provides a vast array of characters. A few will rock the boat, some will row the boat and several sit quietly charting the course, observing the movement of the sea and land and reflecting on who we are and where we are going. They are the thread that holds the human patchwork of a century together; often we are unaware of their importance or influence. But to know one, to spend time with one of these luminous characters leaves one in awe of the human condition and potential. Paul was one of these rare human beings that leave us richer for knowing them.
Michael Bergt
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