Jean Francois Millet - French painter

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

France has always been famous for its painters, sculptors, writers and other artists. The heyday of painting in this European country fell on the XVII-XIX centuries.

One of the brightest representatives of French fine arts is Jean-Francois Millet, who specialized in creating paintings of rural life and landscapes. This is a very bright representative of his genre, whose paintings are still highly valued.

Jean Francois Millet: biography

The future painter was born on 1814-04-10 near the city of Cherbourg, in a tiny village called Gryushi. Although his family was peasant, they lived quite prosperously.

Even at an early age, Jean began to show the ability to paint. The family, where no one had previously had the opportunity to leave their native village and build a career in any other area than the peasantry, the son's talent was received with great enthusiasm.

Parents supported the young man in his desire to study painting and paid for his education. In 1837, Jean-Francois Millet moved to Paris, where he mastered the basics of painting for two years. His mentor is Paul Delaroche.

Already in 1840The beginning artist demonstrated his paintings for the first time in one of the salons. At that time, this could already be perceived as a considerable success, especially for a young painter.

Creative activity

Paris didn't sit well with Jean-Francois Millet, who longed for rural scenery and lifestyle. Therefore, in 1849, he decides to leave the capital, moving to Barbizon, which was much calmer and more comfortable than noisy Paris.

Here the artist lived the rest of his life. He considered himself a peasant, which is why he was drawn to the village.

That is why his work is dominated by subjects of peasant life and rural landscapes. He not only understood and empathized with ordinary farmers and shepherds, but he himself was part of this estate.

He, like no one else, knew how hard it is for ordinary people, how difficult their work is and what a beggarly lifestyle they lead. He admired these people, of which he considered himself a part.

Jean-Francois Millet: Works

The artist was very talented and hardworking. During his life he created many paintings, many of which today are considered true masterpieces of the genre. One of the most famous creations of Jean-Francois Millet is The Gatherers (1857). The picture became famous for reflecting the severity, poverty and hopelessness of ordinary peasants.

It depicts women bent over the ears, because otherwise there is no way to collect the remnants of the harvest. Despite the fact that the picture showed the realitiespeasant life, it caused mixed feelings among the public. Someone considered it a masterpiece, while others spoke sharply negatively. Because of this, the artist decided to soften his style a bit, showing the more aesthetic side of village life.

The canvas "Angelus" (1859) demonstrates the talent of Jean-Francois Millet in all its glory. The painting depicts two people (husband and wife) who, in the evening twilight, pray for people who have left this world. The soft brownish halftones of the landscape, the rays of the setting sun give the picture a special warmth and comfort.

In the same 1859, Millet paints the painting "Peasant Woman Herding a Cow", which was created by special order from the French government.

At the end of his career, Jean-Francois Millet began to pay more and more attention to landscapes. The domestic genre faded into the background. Perhaps he was influenced by the Barbizon school of painting.

In literary works

Jean Francois Millet became one of the heroes of the story "Is he alive or dead?" written by Mark Twain. According to the plot, several artists decided to embark on an adventure. This was driven by poverty. They decide that one of them is faking his own death, having publicized it well beforehand. After his death, the prices for the artist's paintings will have to soar in price, and there will be enough for everyone to live. It was Francois Millet who became the one who played his own death. Moreover, the artist was personally one of those who carried his own coffin. They achieved their goal.

This storyalso became the basis for the dramatic work "Talents and the Dead", which is now being shown at the Moscow Theater. A. S. Pushkin.

Contribution to culture

The artist had a huge impact on French and world art in general. His paintings are highly valued today, and many are exhibited in the largest museums and galleries in Europe and the world.

Today he is considered one of the most prominent representatives of the everyday village genre and a great landscape painter. He has a lot of followers, and many artists who create in a similar genre, in one way or another, are guided by his works.

The painter is rightfully considered the pride of his homeland, and his paintings are the property of national art.

Conclusion

Jean Francois Millet, whose paintings are real masterpieces of painting, made an invaluable contribution to European painting and world art. He rightfully ranks with the greatest artists. Although he did not become the founder of a new style, did not experiment with technique and did not seek to shock the public, his paintings revealed the essence of peasant life, demonstrating all the hardships and joys of the life of village people without embellishment.

Such frankness in canvases, sensuality and truthfulness can not be found in every painter, even famous and eminent. He simply painted pictures of what he saw with his own eyes, and not only saw, but felt himself. He grew up in this environment and knew peasant life from the inside out.