France, (1796-1875)
About the Artist
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, French, (1796-1875). Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French painter who specialized in landscapes and worked in both romantic and realistic styles. Corot’s work is generally considered the forerunner of the impressionistic style. Corot did not idealize.
He preferred to represented nature realistically and in doing so brought a new and personal style to the Classical traditions of the composed landscape.
Corot did most of his work in a studio based on sketches and color notes he had done direct from nature. The sketches are marked by careful structure and the sense of natural light. His final landscapes became somewhat imaginary creations bathed in a filmy romantic atmosphere achieved by silvery tones and soft brushstrokes.
Corot also painted outstanding works in his earlier classical style, classed in the Barbizon school. And throughout his career he also painted a number of portraits, nudes and figure studies.