Two of his paintings secured support for Greek independence, another had to be hidden from public view because it glorified liberty, and he was a major influence over Impressionism.
Fantin-Latour
Ignored bodies, a complex chain from the head of John the Baptist, and Velazquez’s royal portrait which omits the King and Queen,
Maternal love, Oedipus and the Sphinx, and a naked courtesan unveiled before a court of men, all demonstrate how important is gaze.
Probably the best-known of those who showed work at the First Impressionist Exhibition, he was an influential art critic, writer and painter, best remembered now for his sculpture.
Of all the rejects in this series, Manet’s had greatest impact on painting, and really did change the course of art.
Probably the original still life theme, and always a popular one, examples from Fantin-Latour, Bazille, van Gogh, and poignant paintings by Lovis Corinth and Charles Demuth.
Four centuries of paintings of tables laid up ready for the consumption of food, with several variations. From Clara Peeters to the modern burger.
These became popular during the 18th century, revealing models and those painting them, assistants, and many others. They also became complex allegories.
The exquisite and lucrative floral still lifes of Fantin-Latour, and those painted by artists on the periphery of Impressionism. Plus a surprise from Monet.
Throughout his forty-year artistic career, he made a successful living not from painting the enigmatic group portraits for which he’s now famous, but floral still lifes.