How two people changed the history of painting in the twentieth century, and destroyed John Singer Sargent’s reputation.
Cézanne
From a pen and ink drawing, to fine sketches in chalk, then into oil paint on canvas, next modelled by a sculptor in clay, and finally into a bronze bas relief.
A short illustrated history of Renoir’s career as a landscape painter, from Barbizon to La Grenouillère, Post-Impressionism and the influence of Corot and Cézanne.
In which Renoir seeks comfort from his arthritis in the south of France, first in Le Cannet, then Cagnes-sur-Mer. Marvellous landscapes.
He continued to develop his style and technique in landscapes, with a remarkable lightness of touch, and figures shown as cutouts from their background.
His bathers and portraits remained very popular, with their soft focus. His landscapes remained more experimental, thankfully.
There’s been extensive speculation over his late landscapes painted near Aix. Here’s the evidence in the paintings themselves.
Despite continuing financial distress, worsened when Durand-Ruel stopped buying his paintings, some of Pissarro’s finest pure Impressionist works.
Although he only painted 14 oils in England, they mark an early peak in his art. Subsequent landscapes around Louveciennes and Pontoise are numerous and superb too.
His parents intended him to run the family business, but he met the Impressionists in 1862 and became hooked on painting landscapes.
