Corot

Corot, Jean Baptiste Camille (1796-1875), a French landscape painter, born in Paris and educated at Rouen. He was apprenticed to a draper in Paris, and, in spite of his leanings to art, remained in this life till the age of 26, when he entered the studio of Machallon, and then that of Victor Bertin. He then went to Italy for many years, and in 1827 he first exhibited at the Salon of Paris his Vue prise a Narni, and La campagne de Rome, and continued to exhibit for fifty years. He was appointed to the Legion of Honour in 1846, and in 1867 was made officer of the order. As a landscape painter he followed the "poetry of the landscape" rather than realistic effects, and his works, like those of Millet, have something in them of sadness, but more of tenderness and delicacy. Among his best works are Danse des Nymphes, Soleil Levant, Soldi Couchant, Effet de Matin, Agar au Desert, Souvenir d'ltalie. Two works, Danse Antique and Le Bucheron, were exhibited after his death. Corot was of a sympathetic nature, and very kind-hearted, and was much esteemed by fellow-artists, who called him Pere Corot.