Meta-Impressionism / other artists:

Jules Breton

1827 – 1906

a most awarded Naturalist artist

Introduction:
Born in 1827/05/01 in Courrières as Jules-Adolphe Breton. He was a most awarded and most honoured artist. He became member of l’Institute in 1886. Jules Breton namely depicted large figures (peasants) within landscapes, shown in detail. He is namely seen as a Naturalist painter.
Note: This page has just been started; additional info and pictures will be added later.

Jules Breton at the Salon:
Breton received at the Salon a 2nd class medal in 1857 and a 1st class medal in 1859.
In 1872 he received a Médaille d’Honneur.

Jules Breton (1827-1906): S1872-204, La fontaine (Grande Médaille d'Honneur) =EU-1878-123, La fontaine (Salon de 1872; à M. J. ?Bélèvre). Compare print and (reduced study) painting. — Jules Breton (1827-1906): S1872-204, La fontaine (Grande Médaille d’Honneur) =EU-1878-123, La fontaine (Salon de 1872; à M. J. ?Bélèvre). Compare print and (reduced study) painting.

Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1871, SDbr, Jeune fille gardant des vaches, 136x174, A2011/05/05 (iR10;iR48;iR11;aR6,p1871-05;R337/1872+1873) =S1872-205, Jeune fille gardant des vaches (Grande Médaille d'Honneur). — Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1871, SDbr, Jeune fille gardant des vaches, 136×174, A2011/05/05 (iR10;iR48;iR11;aR6,p1871-05;R337/1872+1873) =S1872-205, Jeune fille gardant des vaches (Grande Médaille d’Honneur).

Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1860, SDbr, The evening, 90x112, Orsay (HW;iR6;iR10;iR1;R231-1+6;M1) =S1861-425 (bought by the State; appointed Chevalier LdH); =EU-1900-C-62, Le soir (Musée de Fontainebleau; S.1865) — Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1860, SDbr, The evening, 90×112, Orsay (HW;iR6;iR10;iR1;R231-1+6;M1) =S1861-425 (bought by the State; appointed Chevalier LdH); =EU-1900-C-62, Le soir (Musée de Fontainebleau; S.1865)

Jules Breton (1827-1906): S1865-294 =EU1900-C-63, La fin de la journée (à M. Gallice; S.1865). Compare: copy (R231-2) + 1865ca, The close of day, 66x49, WAM Baltimore (M24) — Jules Breton (1827-1906): S1865-294 =EU1900-C-63, La fin de la journée (à M. Gallice; S.1865). Compare: copy (R231-2) + 1865ca, The close of day, 66×49, WAM Baltimore (M24)

Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1884, The song of the lark, 111x186, AI Chicago (M20;iR10;iR1;iR6;R200,p109) =SdAF-1885-369, Le chant de l'alouette; =Chicago-1893-3047. — Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1884, The song of the lark, 111×186, AI Chicago (M20;iR10;iR1;iR6;R200,p109) =SdAF-1885-369, Le chant de l’alouette; =Chicago-1893-3047.

Jules Breton at the Exposition Universelle:
At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 he received a 3rd class medal.
In 1867 a 1st class medal.
In 1889 he exhibited Hors Concours.
In 1900 he showed 3 paintings and 6 studies (within one frame) (R231-2).

Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1857, The Blessing of the Wheat in Artois, 130x320, MBA Arras (iR2;iR1;R231;M174) S1857-381 (-> 2nd class medal) =EU1867-83, La Bénédiction des blés (Artois) (-> 1st class medal + Officier LdH) — Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1857, The Blessing of the Wheat in Artois, 130×320, MBA Arras (iR2;iR1;R231;M174) S1857-381 (-> 2nd class medal) =EU1867-83, La Bénédiction des blés (Artois) (-> 1st class medal + Officier LdH)

Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1895-96, The last gleanings, 93x140, Huntington Library San Marino (iR2;iR10;R231-3;R472,no227) =? EU-1900-D-295, Les dernières glanes; esquisse. — Jules Breton (1827-1906): 1895-96, The last gleanings, 93×140, Huntington Library San Marino (iR2;iR10;R231-3;R472,no227) =? EU-1900-D-295, Les dernières glanes; esquisse.

Jules Breton in the Légion d’Honneur:
He was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur in 1861 as Chevalier, in 1867 as Officier and in 1889 as Commandeur.

Jules Breton, a most awarded and honoured artist:
Jules Breton was a most awarded artist. In 1872 he received a Médaille d’Honneur at the Salon.
Jules Breton was a most honoured artist. In 1889 he was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur as Commandeur.

Jules Breton, an influential artist:
Jules Breton became a member of l’Institute in 1886 aged 59 and so the next 20 years till his death in 1906.

Jules Breton, a Naturalist artist:
Jules Breton is seen as an important Naturalist painter.
Jules Breton namely depicted large figures within landscapes, shown in detail. Namely peasants working in the fields, who look more like freshly washed models. He depicted an idyllic vision of rural existence. In these landscapes he also depicted twilight scenes.
Jules Breton also made portraits, genre paintings and religious themes (namely funerals and processions).

Sources:
Catalogues of the Salon (R337; iR1).
Catalogues of the Expositions Universelle (R231).
Info and pictures on the internet: iR3; iR4; iR6↓; iR8; iR13; iR14; iR15; iR23; iR139; iR155; iR358;
See the link for other general References (=Rx) and to the internet references (=iRx).
See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.

For further reading:

Additional references:

en.wikipedia.org//jules_breton (English WikiPedia page on Jules Breton; =iR3)
commons.wikimedia//jules_breton (WikiMedia page with pictures related to Jules Breton; =iR6)
commons.wikimedia//paintings_jules_breton (WikiMedia page with paintings of Jules Breton; =iR6)
1911/06/02 + 03: sale collection Jules Breton at Georges Petit gallery (PDF catalogue: ia600905.us.archive.org; =iR19)
commons.wikimedia//catalogue_1911 (WikiMedia page with photos from a posthumous sale of works of Breton at the Georges Petit gallery 1911/06/02+03; =iR6)
julesbreton.com/collection (online catalogue raissoné)

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Jules Breton (1827-1906), a most awarded, Naturalist artist. Last modified 2025/12/03. https://www.impressionism.nl/jules-breton-1827-1906/”

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.