H. Lyman Sayen

H. Lyman Sayen (April 25, 1875 - April 27, 1918) was an American painter and engineer. When the Spanish-American War broke out, Sayen enlisted and was stationed at Fort McPherson, Georgia. It was at Fort McPherson where, because of his background, he was put in charge of the x-ray laboratory. He was discharged in 1898 after contracting typhoid fever. After leaving the army, Sayen enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In 1903, he won a commission to paint four lunettes for the United States Capitol titled Rule of Tyranny, Rule of Justice, Primitive Agriculture, and Good Government. In 1906, Sayen’s wife was hired to report on French fashions, thus promoting a move to Paris. This led to a Sayen enrolling in a class taught by Matise. This would become a close friendship with Matise and Picasso, and many other influential artists. Sayen applied the new techniques he learned in painting for department stores in Philadelphia, making him one of the first artists to introduce Modern art to the US. World War I forced Sayen and his wife to return to the United States.