Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (1796–1875) was a French landscape painter and printmaker associated with both the Barbizon School and the French academic tradition. Born in Paris, Corot initially worked in his family's textile business but chose to pursue his passion for art, studying under various painters, including Achille Etna Michallon and Jean-Victor Bertin.
Corot's early landscapes were influenced by classical ideals and the work of 17th-century landscape painters. However, his later style evolved towards a more personal and poetic interpretation of nature, reflecting the influence of the Barbizon School and the emerging plein-air painting movement.
A frequent traveler, Corot painted scenes from Italy, Switzerland, and France. His works often depicted idyllic landscapes, forests, and lakes, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Corot's ability to convey a sense of mood and tranquility set him apart as a master of landscape painting.
Despite facing some initial criticism, Corot eventually gained widespread recognition and success. His later works, characterized by a more freely handled brush and a tonal approach, had a profound impact on later movements like Impressionism.
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot's legacy endures as a pivotal figure in 19th-century landscape painting, influencing subsequent generations of artists with his innovative approach to capturing the beauty and serenity of the natural world.