Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
(French, 1796-1875)
L’Abreuvoir (The Watering Place), 1855-60
Oil on canvas
20 1/4 x 24 1/4 inches
Gift of Nathan and Jessie Kimberly Paine
1946.143
A pivotal figure in the development of French landscape painting, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot bridged the gap between the classical landscape tradition and the spontaneity and modernity of Impressionism. He sketched and painted outdoors, anticipating the Impressionists’ open-air approach. Often associated with the Barbizon School, Corot painted in the area in the late 1840s and developed close friendships with many of the artists.
With its poetic naturalism, carefully arranged composition, feathery brushwork, and soft, atmospheric quality, Corot’s L’Abreuvoir is an outstanding example of the artist’s mature style and a classic Barbizon landscape.