The painter Gustave Caillebotte was born on this day in 1848. He was dead at 45, having already given up painting seriously in favour of building and racing yachts (he was very rich) and indulging a range of other hobbies, including stamp collecting - his collection is in the British Library. His art collection - of paintings by his impressionist friends - he left to the French government, who weren't happy with the terms of the will, so most of the work ended up in private hands. Caillebotte's own paintings - of interest chiefly for their unusual perspective and composition - were forgotten until a revival of interest began in the 1950s and 1960s. Forty of them now hang in the Musee d'Orsay, and those that come on the market sell for millions. And why not? Plenty of lesser artists sell for more.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Gustave Caillebotte
The painter Gustave Caillebotte was born on this day in 1848. He was dead at 45, having already given up painting seriously in favour of building and racing yachts (he was very rich) and indulging a range of other hobbies, including stamp collecting - his collection is in the British Library. His art collection - of paintings by his impressionist friends - he left to the French government, who weren't happy with the terms of the will, so most of the work ended up in private hands. Caillebotte's own paintings - of interest chiefly for their unusual perspective and composition - were forgotten until a revival of interest began in the 1950s and 1960s. Forty of them now hang in the Musee d'Orsay, and those that come on the market sell for millions. And why not? Plenty of lesser artists sell for more.
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the light on the cobbles is amzing! thankyou Nige
ReplyDeleteYes I like this a lot. (Caillebotte a good Dabbler topic?)
ReplyDeleteI also loved the Musee d'Orsay, the oddness of the 'indoor street' layout.