Gaylord Sangston Truesdell was born on January 1, 1850, in Waukegan, Illinois. Though there is little information available about the beginnings of his career, it is known that he embarked on his artistic journey as an engraver. Later, Gaylord studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. In 1885, he traveled to France where he studied under Ernest Meisonnier and Fernand Cormon. In 1892, he received the first gold medal ever awarded by the Salon to an American painter. He died in New York City in 1899.