GUILFORD, Conn. Robert Heindel, 66, a Toledo native and a graduate of Central Catholic High School who gained international artistic renown for his depictions of dancers at rehearsal, died July 3 at his home here.

He d been unable to work in recent months because of emphysema and died of self-inflicted carbon monoxide poisoning, his sister-in-law, Brenda Rahman, said.

Early in his career, Mr. Heindel created cover illustrations for Time, the Saturday Evening Post, Sports Illustrated, and Ladies Home Journal.

He became known for his paintings of dancers. One art magazine called him the Degas of our time. Mr. Heindel through the years was associated with the San Francisco Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet, and the American Ballet Theater, and the Royal Ballet in London. He was commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber to create posters for Cats and Phantom of the Opera.

First Published July 31, 2005, 3:26 p.m.