Pre-Impressionism:

Jean-Francois Millet

1814-1875

 

General info:
Born in an elementary farmers family. He was the older brother of Jean-Baptiste Millet (1831-1906), who joined the 2nd ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1876. He also was the brother of the sculpture Pierre Millet.
Jean-François Millet was a pupil of Delaroche. He made his debut at the Salon in 1840. He received a second class medal in 1853 (Genre et Paysage) and a medal in 1864. Since 1867 he exhibited hors concours. In 1868 he was appointed at the Légion d’Honneur. 1870 was the last time he exhibited at the Salon; he than also was part of the jury.
At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 he exhibited 1 painting, in 1867 he exhibited 9 paintings and received a 1st class medal. At the Centennale of 1889 there were 13 paintings and 31 drawings / pastels exhibited and in 1900 at least 6 paintings. (iR1;R231;R290)
In 1846 Millet made his acquaintance with Alfred Sensier, who became his friend and biographer (1881: La vie et l’oeuvre de Jean-François Millet). In 1846 he also met other Barbizon-Painters. In 1849 he moved to Barbizon where he would stay untill his death. He was a neighbour of Jacque (R3,p27;R59,p144;R290,p46; in 1861 their friendship ended). He became close friends with Rousseau who also lived in Barbizon. He also had contacts with Barye, Bodmer, Diaz, Dupré, Lavieille, Troyon. Untill the early 1860s Millet had not much recognition, didn’t sell much and was quite poor. His peasant figures were seen as ugly and shocking. He was a member of the Société des Aquafortistes (1862-67) (R290,p197). In 1875 he died in Barbizon and was burried beside Rousseau at the cemetary of closeby Chailly. After his death his works were auctioned.

Millet was a pre-impressionist. More than once, he rendered the time of day, season and weather conditions. In most of his paintings the browns and greys are dominant. He was an informal teacher of Henri Rouart (R45,p9), who also owned a large collection of his works (see). For Vincent van Gogh Millet was his great example (R290,p95).
1906: in his 1st volume of Le peintre-graveur illustré (XIXe + XXe siècles) Loys Delteil renders 34 etchings, lithographes, heliographes on glass and wood engravings of Millet (R138I;iR6;iR6).
(Main sources: R290,p176-179;R138I;R16,p53;R337; More info; see engravings on gallica (iR40);
See also R349;iR40: Moreau-Nélaton, Étienne: Millet, raconté par lui-même. Paris, 1921.
Tome deuxième (gallica.bnf.fr//bpt6k96865944?rk)
Tome troisième (gallica.bnf.fr//bpt6k96868782?rk)

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

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