Frederic Bazille was born in 1841 to a wealthy
family of wine producers near Montpellier. He came to Paris in
1862 to study medicine, but also decided to take classes with
Charles Gleyre. After failing his medical exams in the spring
of 1864, he enrolled as a full-time student of Gleyre.
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The Artist's Family on a Terrace
1867, Musée d'Orsay (France)
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Gleyre emphasized the importance of originality,
and Bazille once said "Thanks to Gleyre's teaching, I shall at
least be able to boast that I have not copied anybody."
He was interested in plein air painting, but
of figures rather than pure landscape, and his work is of interest
for its exploration of the effects of light on flesh tones (e.g.
Family on the Terrace, 1867, Paris, Musee d'Orsay). Much of his
work retained a high finish and dark palette (e.g. Negro Woman
and Peonies, 1870, Montpellier Musee Fabre). He was also a portraitist
and recorder of the Impressionist scene (e.g. Studio in the Rue
de la Condamine, 1870, Paris, Musee d'Orsay)."
Attracted by the modernist tendencies of avant-garde
art, the four abandoned the studio in favor of direct observation
of nature. Working in close harmony, they gradually invented impressionism.
As a student in Gleyre's studio in Paris (1862)
he befriended Monet, Renoir, and Sisley. Attracted by the modernist
tendencies of avant-garde art, the four abandoned the studio in
favor of direct observation of nature (they painted out of doors
at Fontainebleau and in Normandy). Working in close harmony, they
gradually invented impressionism. Through them he met Manet.
From 1865 to 1866, he shared a studio with Monet
and then the following year, shared a studio with Renoir. Bazille
usually took the main financial responsibility of paying the rent.
He was a regular at the Cafe Guerbois and in 1868, he took a studio
off the Boulevard de Clichy and it is that studio which is depicted
in the Studio, rue de la Condamine.
In August of 1870, following France's declaration
of war against Prussia, Bazille enlisted. On November 28th, Bazille
was killed in a minor skirmish in Burgundy. He was 29 years old.
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Bazille painted this piece as a way to
amuse himself. It represents his studio with many of his
friends. They include Monet, Zola, Renoir, Maitre, and Manet.
Manet is in front of the canvas talking to Monet and Bazille.
What makes this painting really interesting is that it was
Manet who painted the figure of Bazille.
Click
here to see a larger image
(122k - 38 sec @ 28.8 kbps)
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Studio Rue de la Condamine
1870 Musée d'Orsay (France)
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