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This thesis comprises an exegesis and a biographical novel, A Painter in Paris, which centres on the life of the Australian Impressionist John Russell (1858–1930). A key challenge which arose during my creative practice informs my research question: how do biographical novelists create authentic voices for fictional protagonists based on historical painters? Focussing on the thriving sub-category of biofiction, this thesis explores research pathways that I identified during my practice – ethics, place and art. My investigation led me to explore notions of authenticity and to examine biofiction theorists such as Michael Lackey, Lucia Boldrini and Catherine Padmore, to better understand the distinct aspects and contentious nature of the literary form. Using as case studies three biographical novels based on historical artists, and also through an examination of my own practice, I investigate how ethical issues linked to the use of real identities, as well as visiting the places where