Pre-Impressionism:
Theodore Rousseau
1812 – 1867
Rousseau, leader of the Barbizon school:
Theodore Rousseau was born 1812/04/15 in Paris from a bourgeois family. He is seen as the leader of the Barbizon-school (R59,p102;R16,p54). In 1827 he first visited the surroundings of the Fontainebleau forest (R59,p8;R290,p180). In1829 he stayed in Chailly and Moret (R290,p180). In 1833 he stayed at Lion d’Or, run by Mère Lemoine, in Chailly (R290,p48+183). Since then, he became a regular visitor of the Fontainebleau forest (R290,p183). In the Paris café Le cheval blanc, he met Cabat, Decamps, Diaz, and Huet (R290,p180). In 1836 he stayed for the first time in Barbizon (R290,p180;R59,p8). In the same year he met Aligny and Diaz (R290,p48+180). He also painted and travelled with Dupré (R290,p180). In 1840 he met Corot (R290,p180). In 1844 he was a regular visitor (R290,p54). Since 1847 he rented his own house in Barbizon, where he would die 1867/12/22 (R290,p48+180;R16,p54). Here he met Barye, Daumier, Diaz, (Dupré), Jacque, J.F. Millet and Ziem (R290,p48). The friendship with Jacque ended in 1854 (R290,p48).
Rousseau at the Salon:
Rousseau made his debut at the Salon of 1831. In 1834 he received a 3rd class medal (Paysage). He was refused in 1836 + 1837 + 1838 (R290,p54;R59;iR1). After that he stopped submitting (since 1841) and was supported by his friends who also stopped submitting. In 1847 there was an attempt to establish an independent Salon by Barye, Decamps, Dupré, Jacque, Ary Scheffer (R290,p53+180;R59). In 1848 there was no jury at the Salon and Corot, Dupré and Rousseau were member of the organisational committee (R290,p49). In 1849 Rousseau was accepted again at the Salon and received a 1st class medal (R59,p103-112;iR1).
Rousseau at the Légion d’Honneur:
1852/07/16 Rousseau was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Rousseau at the Exposition Universelle:
At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 Rousseau exhibited 13 paintings and received a 1st class medal.
In 1867 he showed 8 paintings; he received a Grand Prix; he had been chairman of the jury *.
In the same year ïn 1867 Rousseau supported Bazille’s request for an independent exposition (R59,p183).
At the end of that year he died.
At the Centennale of 1889 there were 21 works exhibited, including 16 paintings, 4 drawings and 1 etch.
In 1900 at least 9 paintings were shown.
Note*: R231-8; R290,p57+180; he also was president of the jury of the Paris Salon in 1867 (R337/1867;R59,p183)
Rousseau as an artist:
Rousseau was a pre-impressionist. He rendered the time of day and the influence of season and weather. His palet is quite dark with many browns, dark greens and greys. His brushstroke ( in smaller pictures) sometimes is quite expressive. Rouseau painted many deserted landscapes, panoramic views and tree studies. Sometimes he renders many details.
Rousseau, as a collector:
Rousseau owned some art-works. Several of them were posthumously auctioned at Hôtel Drouot 1868/04/27 – 05/02 (M23).
Works of Rousseau copied:
Some works of Rousseau have been copied. Namely by Félix Bracquemond.
Rousseau also made variations of his own paintings.
More pictures:
Here below you will find some more pictures of Théodore Rousseau.
Other exhibited works:
Here below you will find titles of works of Rousseau that were shown at the Expositions Universelles and partly those at the Salon. When possible, external links will be added. Indications of location and of atmospherical influences will be indicated with blue and pink colours.
S1831-1854, Paysage; site d’Auvergne. (=? M70)
S1834-1701, Lisière d’un bois coupé, forêt de Compiègne (Appartient à S. A. R. le duc d’Orléans) (=? iR6).
S1849-1779, Lisière de forêt; soleil couchant.
S1849-1780, Terrains d’automne.
S1849-1778, Une avenue.
EU-1855-3927, Les côtes de Granville. (=M95; iR6; iR500) =S1833
EU-1855-3928, Lisière de bois, Berry (=? iR23; M5; iR6)
EU-1855-3929, Une avenue, forêt de l’Isle-Adam (Orsay =M1; =iR23; iR6)
EU-1855-3930, Landes; effet du matin.
EU-1855-3931, Sortie de forêt, Fontainebleau; coucher de soleil; (= Louvre =M5; =iR23)
=S1850/51 =EU-Vienna-1873.
EU-1855-3932, Sortie de forêt, crépuscule; Fontainebleau.
EU-1855-3933, Un marais dans les Landes; S1853 (=Louvre M5; iR6; iR1)
EU-1855-3934, Lisière des Monts-Gérard, forêt de Fontainebleau (=? iR23; M5; iR6)
EU-1855-3935, Groupe de chênes dans les gorges d’Apremont; (Louvre=M5; =!? iR23; iR6; iR357) =?? S1852-1122 (iR1)
EU-1855-3936, Plaine de Barbizon; effet du soir.
EU-1855-3937, Un coteau, près Melun. (=?? iR6=M290)
EU-1855-3938, Un marais, Landes. (=?? M190; iR6)
EU-1855-3939, Un coteau cultivé, plaine de Barbizon.
S1859-2641, ? (=Edge of the Woods (Plain of Barbizon near Fontainebleau) M22; iR6)
S1863-1633, Clairière dans la haute futaie, forêt de Fontainebleau (=iR23; M1)
S1863-1634, Une mare sous les chênes.
S1864-1682, Chaumières sous les arbres.
S1864-?, Un village.
S1866-1693, Coucher du soleil; forêt de Fontainebleau. (=? iR23; iR357 =Louvre)
S1866-1694, Bornage de la forêt de Fontainebleau à Barbizon.
S1867-1319ter, =1836+, Intérieur de forêt (Le Vieux Dormoir du Bas-Bréau), 65×103, Orsay (=M1; =iR23)
EU-1867-543, Gorges d’Apremont; forêt de Fontainebleau; Salon de 1859.
EU-1867-544, Le Chêne de roche, forêt de Fontainebleau; Salon de 1861; à M. Marmontel (=iR15; iR6; M90).
EU-1867-545, L’Automne (fin d’octobre); paysage de Sologne; à M. Marmontel.
EU-1867-546, Coup de soleil par un temps orageux, gorges d’Apremont.
EU-1867-547, Le Soir après la pluie, paysage du Berry. (=M21; iR6)
EU-1867-548, Bords de la Bouzanne, paysage du Berry; à M. Margueritte (=iR6; M48).
EU-1867-549, Une Métairie sur les bords de l’Oise; à M. le comte d’Aquila.
EU-1867-550, Rive d’un étang (effet du soir), paysage du Berry; à M. Gavet.
EU-1889-C-600, Maison de garde dans la forêt de Fontainebleau; à Mme Hartmann (=? M26).
EU-1889-C-601, Allée de village; à Mme Hartmann.
EU-1889-C-602, Bords de l’Oise, à M. de Porto-Riche.
EU-1889-C-603, Le petit pont; à M. Bellino (compare engraving iR501).
EU-1889-C-604, Bords de l’Oise; à M. Lutz.
EU-1889-C-605, La chaumière; à M. Bouchéron (=?? Md Valence).
EU-1889-C-606, Le matin; à Mme la Baronne N. de Rothschild.
EU-1889-C-607, Le soir; à Mme la Baronne N. de Rothschild.
EU-1889-C-608, La barque; à M. Barbedienne.
EU-1889-C-609, Mare dans les Landes (1866); à M. Vever. Compare: EU-1855-3933, Un marais dans les Landes; S1853. Compare engraving iR501)
EU-1889-C-610, Les Chênes; à M. Prosper Crabbe.
EU-1889-C-611, La ferme dans les Landes; à M. Tabourier; (S.1859).
EU-1889-C-612, Le pêcheur à la ligne; à M. Léopold Goldschmidt (compare engraving iR42 after painting M70).
EU-1889-C-613, Vue de Broglie; à M. F. Bischoffsheim.
EU-1889-C-614, Coucher du soleil.
EU-1889-C-615, Fin d’été à Fontainebleau; effet d’orage; à M. V. Desfossés.
EU-1889-C-II-518, Plaine avec un canal dans les Landes; dessin (à M. H. Rouart)
EU-1899-C-II-519, Etude d’arbres; lavis d’encre de Chine (à M. Antonin Proust)
EU-1889-C-II-520, Le dormoir; lavis d’encre de Chine (à M. Gosselin)
EU-1889-C-II-521, Chênes; lavis d’encre de Chine (à Mme. Charras)
EU-1889-C-VII-436, Chênes de roche; eau-forte originale (pour la Gazette des Beaux-Arts)
EU-1900-C-590, Prairies traversées par une rivière (Musée de Nantes) (= M16; iR489).
EU-1900-C-591, Le Château de Royat; étude (à M. Gillibert) (=?? iR23; M199).
EU-1900-C-592, La lisière de forêt (à M. Vasnier)
EU-1900-C-593, Le Monticule de Jean de Paris (à M. L. Mante).
EU-1900-C-594, Paysage des Landes (à M. Jules Beer).
EU-1900-C-595, Vue prise sur les bords de la vieille Seine, à Égliny (Seine-et-Marne) (à M. Ernest May).
EU-1900-C-596, La Mare (à M. Peytel).
EU-1900-C-597, Environs de Fribourg (à M. Vial).
EU-1900-C-598, Paysage (à M. Gallimard)
Centennial exhibitions:
Saint-Petersbourg-1912-C-573, =La forêt en hiver, fusain, 48×63, Louvre (=M5a; iR23)
Saint-Petersbourg-1912-C-579, =1830ca, Paysage d’Auvergne, gouache + aquarelle, 21×31, Louvre (=M5a; iR23)
Saint-Petersbourg-1912-C-582 =La plaine de Barbizon, dessin, mine de plomb + aquarelle (=iR23)
=Copenhagen-1914-XIX-335
Note: more info will follow.
Sources:
R290,p180-188; R231; R16,p54; iR3; iR6; iR6 (paintings); iR11; iR23; iR155; iR489; M1; M5;
Catalogues of the Salon: iR1; R337;
Catalogues of the Expositions Universelle: R231.
For further reading:
1906: in his 1st volume of Le peintre-graveur illustré (XIXe + XXe siècles) Loys Delteil renders 6 etchings of Rousseau (R138I;iR6;iR6).
Servane Dargnies-de Vitry (ed.): Théodore Rousseau; The voice of the forest. Exhibition catalogue. Musée Petit Palais Paris, 2024. (M4)
Additional references (=aR):
- 19thc-artworldwide.org//rousseau (article on the 2024 exposition in Paris; =iR348)
- www.YouTube.com//rousseau (video on the 2024 exposition in Paris, 12:46min.; =iR429)
Recommanded citation: “Pre-Impressionism: Theodore Rousseau (1812-67). Last modified 2025/12/09. https://www.impressionism.nl/rousseau-1812-67/ ”
Note: more info will follow.