who is george healy? >> george healy to me is a great american story. george healy was an irish boy who grew up in the streets of boston, no money, for education, but talent to paint and draw. he was told you're good. you could go all the way with this talent. but he knew he had to go train with somebody. there was nobody to train with, no art school. so, without any money except what he had been able to save, no knowledge of french, knowing no one in paris, he went to paris, and he became the most sought-after and in many ways, most accomplished american portrait painter of the 19th century. there are seven of his paintings at the white house. there are 17 of his paintings in the national portrait gallery. his paintings are in most every major gallery in the united states. he was phenomenal. this painting right here is the biggest single work he ever did by far. ic remember the dimensions, but they are enormous. it covers the whole back wall behind the staining -- stage at nathaniel hall in boston, one of the most historic buildings in the united state

george healy lived very long life and was still painting and still very actively in demand as a portrait painter. late in life. but he knew his days were numbered and he wanted to die at home so he came back and settled in chicago. >> what other? we've mentioned a couple of the books that you could write off of a chapter. can you think of another one? >> i could easily write another book about augusta st. guns. >> he was called guss and she was called gussy? >> that's right. she was augusta homer. she was a cousin of the famous american painter. >> it was almost -- there isn't a chapter i wouldn't enjoy writing. but i think that the chapter that is about mary cosset and john singer sergeant i would enjoy doing as a major book because there you have these contrasting personalities, contrasting american geniuses who are painting in paris at exactly the same time living in an entirely different world within the world of paris, paris is like all great cities, has many worlds within the world of paris. and mary cosset and john singer sergeant lived worlds apart yet they were practically neigh

george healy lived a very long life and was still in demand as a portrait painter late in life, but he knew his days were numbered and he wanted to die at home so he came back and settled in chicago. >> we mentioned a couple books you could write off a chapter, can you think of another one? >> i easily could write a book about augusta saint-gadens. >> he was called gus and she was called gussi. >> he was agustus saint-gaudens and she was a cousin of homer, the famous american painter. but the chapter that is about mary cassatt and john singer sargent i would enjoy doing as a major book because there you have these contrasting personalities, contrasting american geniuses who are painting in paris at exactly the same time, living in an entirely different world within the world of paris. paris is like all great cities has many worlds within the world of paris. and mary cassatt and john singer sargent lived worlds apart but yet they were right practically neighbors in the same city and both were painting what would prove to be american masterpieces that would more than stand the test of ti