Born into an aristocratic family, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) brought Paris -- in particular the Montmartre section of the city -- to life through his paintings and posters, which captured the Parisian nightlife of his time. Toulouse-Lautrec was sickly as a child and broke both his legs as a teen. His bones failed to heal properly and, while the rest of his body developed at a normal rate, his legs ceased to grow as a result of a genetic defect. At maturity Toulouse-Lautrec was 4-1/2 feet tall, a fact which kept him from the popular pursuits of the aristocracy. Instead, he devoted his life to art, and, unfortunately, alcohol, spending much of his time in the cabarets of Paris. He is best known for his posters and portraits that captured the spirit of life at the Moulin Rouge. Henri died at the age of 36 from the effects of his abuse of alcohol.
