Realism, Barbizon School
October 4, 1814, Gruchy (near Gréville), France
Son of a farmer, Millet was the one French Realist painter who honestly was a peasant. After spotty training under Delaroche, Millet did conventional portraiture for (literal) bread, until gaining recognition at the Salon of 1844. His best-known, beloved scenes of everyday farming life were met with alarm and criticism when first shown. Though he lived among, and was great friends with, the Barbizon landscape painters, he preferred painting his brethren peasants and did so with great empathy.
- • The Winnower (1847-48)
- • The Sower (1850)
- • The Angelus (1857-1859)
- • The Gleaners (1857)
January 20, 1875, Barbizon, France
See more resources on Jean-François Millet by following the links at right
Go to Artist Profiles: Names beginning with "M" or Artist Profiles: Main Index
(Image scan courtesy and copyright of Mark Harden, used with kind permission. Please visit The Artchive for more fine resources.)
