Born 200 years ago today, he should have been one of the major artists of the 19th century, but died when he had only just turned 37.
painting
A pupil of JAD Ingres when he was only 11 years old, his first work exhibited at the Salon when he was only 16: a precocious and brilliant narrative artist.
Series, first loose collections of avenues of poplars, then the bridge of Moret-sur-Loing, and finally the mass of the Church in the town. Some of his finest paintings.
Moving back to Impressionist style, he painted the countryside around Éragny, and views of the cities of London and Paris.
If Inferno and Purgatory are the stick, Paradise must be the carrot – the incentive to live a pious and upright life. Shown in paintings by Blake, engravings by Doré, and others.
More jewels and jewellery, including a portrait of Queen Victoria, Salome, Helen of Troy, and two of Klimt’s golden girls.
If you thought glassware was tough, try painting gems and jewellery. Here are a few paintings where this has worked, including two of Rembrandt’s.
In this period, he painted some of the most sublime Impressionist landscapes, their mood and tone set by the sky.
In 1885-86, he decided to become a Neo-Impressionist, but after 3 years of painting some of the finest Divisionist paintings, he faced a difficult decision.
John Collier’s latest ‘problem picture’ became the most popular event in the Royal Academy’s annual exhibition.
