Édouard Manet 1832-1883

Manet portrait by Nadar, 1874.jpg
Édouard Manet, 1874
portrait by Nadar

Édouard Manet 23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883) was a French painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, and a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
Édouard Manet was born in Paris on 23 January 1832, in the ancestral hôtel particulier (mansion) on the rue des Petits Augustins (now rue Bonaparte) to an affluent and well-connected family. His mother, Eugénie-Desirée Fournier, was the daughter of a diplomat and goddaughter of the Swedish crown prince Charles Bernadotte, from whom the Swedish monarchs are descended. His father, Auguste Manet, was a French judge who expected Édouard to pursue a career in law. His uncle, Edmond Fournier, encouraged him to pursue painting and took young Manet to the Louvre. In 1841 he enrolled at secondary school, the Collège Rollin. In 1845, at the advice of his uncle, Manet enrolled in a special course of drawing where he met Antonin Proust, future Minister of Fine Arts and subsequent lifelong friend. At his father's suggestion, in 1848 he sailed on a training vessel to Rio de Janeiro. After he twice failed the examination to join the Navy, his father relented to his wishes to pursue an art education. From 1850 to 1856, Manet studied under the academic painter Thomas Couture. In his spare time, Manet copied the Old Masters in the Louvre. From 1853 to 1856, Manet visited Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, during which time he was influenced by the Dutch painter Frans Hals, and the Spanish artists Diego Velázquez and Francisco José de Goya.
In 1856, Manet opened a studio. His style in this period was characterized by loose brush strokes, simplification of details and the suppression of transitional tones. Adopting the current style of realism initiated by Gustave Courbet, he painted The Absinthe Drinker (1858–59) and other contemporary subjects such as beggars, singers, Gypsies, people in cafés, and bullfights. After his early career, he rarely painted religious, mythological, or historical subjects; examples include his Christ Mocked, now in the Art Institute of Chicago, and Christ with Angels, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Manet had two canvases accepted at the Salon in 1861.

Pierrot dancing 1849 The barque of Dante 1854 The Anatomy Lesson 1856 A woman pouring water 1858 The smoker 1858 Study of trees 1859 The absinthe drinker 1859 The Boy with Cherries 1859 Portrait of Monsieur and Madame Auguste Manet 1860
Pierrot dancing 1849 The barque of Dante 1854 The Anatomy Lesson 1856 A woman pouring water 1858 The smoker 1858 Study of trees 1859 The absinthe drinker 1859 The Boy with Cherries 1859 Portrait of Monsieur and Madame Auguste Manet 1860
The Spanish Singer 1860 A boy with a dog 1861 Boy with a sword 1861 Surprised Nymph 1861 A boy with a pitcher 1862 Guitar and Hat 1862 Gypsy with a Cigarette 1862 Jeanne Duval, Baudelaire's Mistress, Reclining 1862 Lola de Valence 1862
The Spanish Singer 1860 A boy with a dog 1861 Boy with a sword 1861 Surprised Nymph 1861 A boy with a pitcher 1862 Guitar and Hat 1862 Gypsy with a Cigarette 1862 Jeanne Duval, Baudelaire's Mistress, Reclining 1862 Lola de Valence 1862
Music in the Tuileries Garden 1862 Oysters 1862 Street Singer 1862 The Boy with a Sword 1862 The old musician 1862 The spanish ballet 1862 Victorine Meurent 1862 Victorine Meurent in the costume of an Espada 1862 Fishing 1863
Music in the Tuileries Garden 1862 Oysters 1862 Street Singer 1862 The Boy with a Sword 1862 The old musician 1862 The spanish ballet 1862 Victorine Meurent 1862 Victorine Meurent in the costume of an Espada 1862 Fishing 1863
Olympia 1863 The Luncheon on the Grass 1863 Woman writing 1863 Young man in the costume of a majo 1863 Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume 1863 Basket of Fruits 1864 Battle of Kearsage and Alabama 1864 Branch of White Peonies and Secateurs 1864 Eel and Red Mullet 1864
Olympia 1863 The Luncheon on the Grass 1863 Woman writing 1863 Young man in the costume of a majo 1863 Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume 1863 Basket of Fruits 1864 Battle of Kearsage and Alabama 1864 Branch of White Peonies and Secateurs 1864 Eel and Red Mullet 1864
Fishing boat coming in before the wind 1864 Ship's Deck 1868 Peony stem and shears 1864 Steamboat leaving Boulogne 1864 Still Life Fruits on a Table 1864 Study to 'Dead Christ with Angels' 1864 The Bullfight 1864 The Dead Christ with Angels 1864 The head of Christ 1864
Fishing boat coming in before the wind 1864 Ship's Deck 1868 Peony stem and shears 1864 Steamboat leaving Boulogne 1864 Still Life Fruits on a Table 1864 Study to 'Dead Christ with Angels' 1864 The Bullfight 1864 The Dead Christ with Angels 1864 The head of Christ 1864
Vase of Peonies on a Small Pedestal 1864 Angelina 1865 Jesus mocked by the Soldiers 1865 Madame Auguste Manet 1865 Beach at Boulogne 1869 The dead toreador 1865 The monk at prayer 1865 Women at the Races 1865 A King Charles Spanie 1866
Vase of Peonies on a Small Pedestal 1864 Angelina 1865 Jesus mocked by the Soldiers 1865 Madame Auguste Manet 1865 Beach at Boulogne 1869 The dead toreador 1865 The monk at prayer 1865 Women at the Races 1865 A King Charles Spanie 1866
Bull-fighting scene 1866 Portrait of Zacharie Astruc 1866 Still life with melon and peaches 1866 The Fifer 1866 The Guitar Player 1866 The Tragedian Actor 1866 Woman with a Parrot 1866 A matador 1867 Portrait of Madame Brunet 1867
Bull-fighting scene 1866 Portrait of Zacharie Astruc 1866 Still life with melon and peaches 1866 The Fifer 1866 The Guitar Player 1866 The Tragedian Actor 1866 Woman with a Parrot 1866 A matador 1867 Portrait of Madame Brunet 1867
Races at Longchamp 1867 Study for The Execution of Emperor Maximilian 1867 The burial 1867 The Exposition Universelle 1867 The philosopher 1867 A young man peeling a pear 1868 Jetty at Boulogne 1868 Luncheon in the Studio 1868 Madame Manet at the Piano 1868
Races at Longchamp 1867 Study for The Execution of Emperor Maximilian 1867 The burial 1867 The Exposition Universelle 1867 The philosopher 1867 A young man peeling a pear 1868 Jetty at Boulogne 1868 Luncheon in the Studio 1868 Madame Manet at the Piano 1868
Moonlight on Boulogne Harbour 1868 Portrait of Emile Zola 1868 Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus 1868 The Execution of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico 1868 The salmon 1868 Theodore Duret 1868 Young woman with a pink shoe 1868 A café, interiour 1869 Almonds, currants and peaches 1869
Moonlight on Boulogne Harbour 1868 Portrait of Emile Zola 1868 Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus 1868 The Execution of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico 1868 The salmon 1868 Theodore Duret 1868 Young woman with a pink shoe 1868 A café, interiour 1869 Almonds, currants and peaches 1869
Boy Blowing Bubbles 1869 Embarkation after Folkestone 1869 The Balcony 1869 The Departure Of The Folkestone Boat 1869 The Jetty at Boulogne 1869 The ragpicker 1869 The reading 1869 A brioche 1870 Effect of Snow at Petit-Montrouge 1870
Boy Blowing Bubbles 1869 Embarkation after Folkestone 1869 The Balcony 1869 The Departure Of The Folkestone Boat 1869 The Jetty at Boulogne 1869 The ragpicker 1869 The reading 1869 A brioche 1870 Effect of Snow at Petit-Montrouge 1870
In the garden 1870 Portrait of Eva Gonzales 1870 Portrait of Suzanne Manet 1870 The Races 1870 The Rest, portrait of Berthe Morisot 1870 Seascape at Arcachon 1871 Boats at Low Tide on the Bay of Arachon 1871 The Bay of Arcachon and Lighthouse on Cape Ferret 1871 Interior at Arcacho 1871
In the garden 1870 Portrait of Eva Gonzales 1870 Portrait of Suzanne Manet 1870 The Races 1870 The Rest, portrait of Berthe Morisot 1870 Seascape at Arcachon 1871 Boats at Low Tide on the Bay of Arachon 1871 The Bay of Arcachon and Lighthouse on Cape Ferret 1871 Interior at Arcacho 1871
Portrait of Monsieur Tillet 1871 The Barricade 1871 The Bay of Arcachon 1871 The Port of Bordeaux 1871 Young Woman in Oriental Garb 1871 A veiled young woman 1872 Berthe Morisot with a bouquet of violets 1872 Berthe Morisot with a Fan 1872 Bouquet of violets 1872
Portrait of Monsieur Tillet 1871 The Barricade 1871 The Bay of Arcachon 1871 The Port of Bordeaux 1871 Young Woman in Oriental Garb 1871 A veiled young woman 1872 Berthe Morisot with a bouquet of violets 1872 Berthe Morisot with a Fan 1872 Bouquet of violets 1872
Brunette with bare breasts 1872 The Races in the Bois de Boulogne 1872 View of Holland 1872 A Good Glass of Beer 1873 Boats Coming Ashore 1873 Boy in Flowers 1873 Cows at a Pasture 1873 Croquet 1873 Marguerite de Conflans Wearing Hood 1873
Brunette with bare breasts 1872 The Races in the Bois de Boulogne 1872 View of Holland 1872 A Good Glass of Beer 1873 Boats Coming Ashore 1873 Boy in Flowers 1873 Cows at a Pasture 1873 Croquet 1873 Marguerite de Conflans Wearing Hood 1873
On the Beach 1873 Railway 1873 Seascape at Berck, Fishing Boats and Fishermen 1873 Swallows 1873 Tarring the Boat 1873 The Masked Ball at the Opera 1873 Polichinelle 1873 Argenteuil 1874 Argenteuil, Boat 1874
On the Beach 1873 Railway 1873 Seascape at Berck, Fishing Boats and Fishermen 1873 Swallows 1873 Tarring the Boat 1873 The Masked Ball at the Opera 1873 Polichinelle 1873 Argenteuil 1874 Argenteuil, Boat 1874
Berthe Morisot in Mourning 1874 Boating 1874 Head of a Man 1874 Madame Manet on a Blue Sofa 1874 Monet in his Studio Boat 1874 Parisienne Study of Ellen Andree 1874 Portrait of Abbé Hurel 1874 The Banks of the Seine at Argenteuil 1874 The Lady with Fans, Portrait of Nina de Callias 1874
Berthe Morisot in Mourning 1874 Boating 1874 Head of a Man 1874 Madame Manet on a Blue Sofa 1874 Monet in his Studio Boat 1874 Parisienne Study of Ellen Andree 1874 Portrait of Abbé Hurel 1874 The Banks of the Seine at Argenteuil 1874 The Lady with Fans, Portrait of Nina de Callias 1874
The Monet family in their garden at Argenteuil 1874 At the races 1875 Bathers on Seine 1875 Portrait of Gilbert Marcellin Desboutin 1875 The Grand Canal 1875 The grand canal of Venice. Blue Venice 1875 The Horsewoman 1875 The laundry 1875 Woman with umbrella 1875
The Monet family in their garden at Argenteuil 1874 At the races 1875 Bathers on Seine 1875 Portrait of Gilbert Marcellin Desboutin 1875 The Grand Canal 1875 The grand canal of Venice. Blue Venice 1875 The Horsewoman 1875 The laundry 1875 Woman with umbrella 1875
Young woman with a book 1875 Head of a Dog 1876 Stephane Mallarme 1876 Nana 1877 Portrait of Antonin Proust 1877 Portrait of Faure as Hamlet 1877 Woman Before a Mirror 1877 Young woman in a round hat 1877 At the Café 1878
Young woman with a book 1875 Head of a Dog 1876 Stephane Mallarme 1876 Nana 1877 Portrait of Antonin Proust 1877 Portrait of Faure as Hamlet 1877 Woman Before a Mirror 1877 Young woman in a round hat 1877 At the Café 1878
Eva Gonzales 1878 Man in a Round Hat 1878 Plum Brandy 1878 Portrait of a lady with a black fichu 1878 Portrait of Lina Campineanu 1878 Portrait of madame Julles Guillemet 1878 Rue Mosnier decorated with Flags 1878 Self-portrait with skull-cap 1878 The Blonde with Bare Breasts 1878
Eva Gonzales 1878 Man in a Round Hat 1878 Plum Brandy 1878 Portrait of a lady with a black fichu 1878 Portrait of Lina Campineanu 1878 Portrait of madame Julles Guillemet 1878 Rue Mosnier decorated with Flags 1878 Self-portrait with skull-cap 1878 The Blonde with Bare Breasts 1878
The road-menders, Rue de Berne 1878 Two women drinking, Bocks 1878 Woman fastening her garter 1878 Woman in a tub 1878 At Father Lathuille 1879 At the Cafe-Concert 1879 Two roses on a tablecloth 1883 In the bar 'Le Bouchon' 1879 Madame Manet in conservatory 1879
The road-menders, Rue de Berne 1878 Two women drinking, Bocks 1878 Woman fastening her garter 1878 Woman in a tub 1878 At Father Lathuille 1879 At the Cafe-Concert 1879 Two roses on a tablecloth 1883 In the bar 'Le Bouchon' 1879 Madame Manet in conservatory 1879
On the Bench 1879 Portrait of a Lady 1879 Portrait of Berthe Morisot 1879 Portrait of Emilie Ambre in role of Carmen 1879 Portrait of George Moore 1879 Portrait of Georges Clemenceau 1879 Portrait of Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier 1879 Portrait of Monsieur Brun 1879 Self Portrait with a Palette 1879
On the Bench 1879 Portrait of a Lady 1879 Portrait of Berthe Morisot 1879 Portrait of Emilie Ambre in role of Carmen 1879 Portrait of George Moore 1879 Portrait of Georges Clemenceau 1879 Portrait of Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier 1879 Portrait of Monsieur Brun 1879 Self Portrait with a Palette 1879
Singer at a Cafe-Concert 1879 Lilac and roses 1883 The conservatory 1879 The waitress Bocks 1879 Woman Reading 1879 Woman with a gold pin 1879 Young woman among the flowers 1879 Asparagus 1880 A young girl 1880
Singer at a Cafe-Concert 1879 Lilac and roses 1883 The conservatory 1879 The waitress Bocks 1879 Woman Reading 1879 Woman with a gold pin 1879 Young woman among the flowers 1879 Asparagus 1880 A young girl 1880
Artist's atelier 1880 Bundle of aspargus 1880 Corner of a Cafe-Concert 1880 Interior of a Café 1880 Isabelle Lemonnier with a muff 1880 Lady in a fur 1880 Madame Manet at Bellevue 1880 Mother in the Garden at Bellevue 1880 Portrait of Clemenceau at the tribune 1880
Artist's atelier 1880 Bundle of aspargus 1880 Corner of a Cafe-Concert 1880 Interior of a Café 1880 Isabelle Lemonnier with a muff 1880 Lady in a fur 1880 Madame Manet at Bellevue 1880 Mother in the Garden at Bellevue 1880 Portrait of Clemenceau at the tribune 1880
Portrait of composer Emmanual Chabrier 1880 Portrait of Ernest Cabaner 1880 Portrait of Irma Brunner 1880 Still Life with Brioche 1880 Still life with flowers 1880 The Garden at Bellevue 1880 The ham 1880 The Lemon 1880 The stroll 1880
Portrait of composer Emmanual Chabrier 1880 Portrait of Ernest Cabaner 1880 Portrait of Irma Brunner 1880 Still Life with Brioche 1880 Still life with flowers 1880 The Garden at Bellevue 1880 The ham 1880 The Lemon 1880 The stroll 1880
The Suicide 1880 Woman with a Cat 1880 Young woman in the garden 1880 Young woman taking a walk holding an open umbrella 1880 Bench 1881 Jeanne Martin in pink dress 1881 Madame Jeanne Martin in a bonnet 1881 Pertuiset, Lion Hunter 1881 Portrait of Henry Bernstein as a Child 1881
The Suicide 1880 Woman with a Cat 1880 Young woman in the garden 1880 Young woman taking a walk holding an open umbrella 1880 Bench 1881 Jeanne Martin in pink dress 1881 Madame Jeanne Martin in a bonnet 1881 Pertuiset, Lion Hunter 1881 Portrait of Henry Bernstein as a Child 1881
Rochefort's Escape 1881 The Bench 1881 The Milliner 1881 The model for the Bar at the Folies-Bergère 1881 The Journalist Henri Rochefort 1881 A Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1882 A Corner of the Garden in Rueil 1882 Autumn. Study of Mery Laurent 1882 Bouquet of flowers 1882
Rochefort's Escape 1881 The Bench 1881 The Milliner 1881 The model for the Bar at the Folies-Bergère 1881 The Journalist Henri Rochefort 1881 A Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1882 A Corner of the Garden in Rueil 1882 Autumn. Study of Mery Laurent 1882 Bouquet of flowers 1882
Flowers in a Crystal Vase 1882 Four Apples 1882 Lilac in a glass 1882 Moss Roses in a Vase 1882 Peaches 1882 Pinks and Clematis in a Crystal Vase 1882 Portrait of madame Michel-Levy 1882 René Maizeroy 1882 Rose and tulip 1882
Flowers in a Crystal Vase 1882 Four Apples 1882 Lilac in a glass 1882 Moss Roses in a Vase 1882 Peaches 1882 Pinks and Clematis in a Crystal Vase 1882 Portrait of madame Michel-Levy 1882 René Maizeroy 1882 Rose and tulip 1882
Roses in a Champagne Glass 1882 Spring. Study of Jeanne Demarsy 1882 Study for Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1882 The Bugler 1882 The House at Rueil 1882 Woman in furs 1882 Young woman in a negligee 1882 Young woman in the garden 1882 Head of Jean-Baptiste Faure 1883
Roses in a Champagne Glass 1882 Spring. Study of Jeanne Demarsy 1882 Study for Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1882 The Bugler 1882 The House at Rueil 1882 Woman in furs 1882 Young woman in a negligee 1882 Young woman in the garden 1882 Head of Jean-Baptiste Faure 1883
Still Life. Fish 1864 Beggar with a Duffle Coat. Philosopher 1865 Bullfight 1865 Mademoiselle Lucie Delabigne 1879 Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier 1879 The Little Cavaliers 1860 Portrait of a man 1860 The Reader 1861 Music Lesson 1870
Still Life. Fish 1864 Beggar with a Duffle Coat. Philosopher 1865 Bullfight 1865 Mademoiselle Lucie Delabigne 1879 Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier 1879 The Little Cavaliers 1860 Portrait of a man 1860 The Reader 1861 Music Lesson 1870
The Railroad Station in Sceaux 1870 Scene in a Spanish Studio 1865 The Croquet Party 1871 The Port of Calais 1871 Toilers of the Sea 1873 Plums 1880 Tama the Japanese Dog 1875 Spanish Woman with a Black Cross 1865 On the Beach at Boulogne 1868
The Railroad Station in Sceaux 1870 Scene in a Spanish Studio 1865 The Croquet Party 1871 The Port of Calais 1871 Toilers of the Sea 1873 Plums 1880 Tama the Japanese Dog 1875 Spanish Woman with a Black Cross 1865 On the Beach at Boulogne 1868

A portrait of his mother and father, who at the time was paralysed and robbed of speech by a stroke, was ill received by critics. The other, The Spanish Singer, was admired by Theophile Gautier, and placed in a more conspicuous location as a result of its popularity with Salon-goers. Manet's work, which appeared "slightly slapdash" when compared with the meticulous style of so many other Salon paintings, intrigued some young artists. The Spanish Singer, painted in a "strange new fashion [-] caused many painters' eyes to open and their jaws to drop."
After the death of his father in 1862, Manet married Suzanne Leenhoff in 1863. Leenhoff was a Dutch-born piano teacher of Manet's age with whom he had been romantically involved for approximately ten years. Leenhoff initially had been employed by Manet's father, Auguste, to teach Manet and his younger brother piano. She also may have been Auguste's mistress. In 1852, Leenhoff gave birth, out of wedlock, to a son, Leon Koella Leenhoff. Manet painted his wife in The Reading, among other paintings.
He became friends with the Impressionists Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro through another painter, Berthe Morisot, who was a member of the group and drew him into their activities. The grand niece of the painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Morisot had her first painting accepted in the Salon de Paris in 1864, and she continued to show in the salon for the next ten years.
Manet became the friend and colleague of Berthe Morisot in 1868. She is credited with convincing Manet to attempt plein air painting, which she had been practicing since she was introduced to it by another friend of hers, Camille Corot. They had a reciprocating relationship and Manet incorporated some of her techniques into his paintings. In 1874, she became his sister-in-law when she married his brother, Eugène.
Unlike the core Impressionist group, Manet maintained that modern artists should seek to exhibit at the Paris Salon rather than abandon it in favor of independent exhibitions. Nevertheless, when Manet was excluded from the International Exhibition of 1867, he set up his own exhibition. His mother worried that he would waste all his inheritance on this project, which was enormously expensive. While the exhibition earned poor reviews from the major critics, it also provided his first contacts with several future Impressionist painters, including Degas.
Although his own work influenced and anticipated the Impressionist style, he resisted involvement in Impressionist exhibitions, partly because he did not wish to be seen as the representative of a group identity, and partly because he preferred to exhibit at the Salon. Eva Gonzalès, a daughter of the novelist Emmanuel Gonzalès, was his only formal student.
He was influenced by the Impressionists, especially Monet and Morisot. Their influence is seen in Manet's use of lighter colors: after the early 1870s he made less use of dark backgrounds but retained his distinctive use of black, uncharacteristic of Impressionist painting. He painted many outdoor (plein air) pieces, but always returned to what he considered the serious work of the studio.
Throughout his life, although resisted by art critics, Manet could number as his champions Émile Zola, who supported him publicly in the press, Stéphane Mallarmé, and Charles Baudelaire, who challenged him to depict life as it was. Manet, in turn, drew or painted each of them.
Manet depicted many scenes of the streets of Paris in his works. The Rue Mosnier Decked with Flags depicts red, white, and blue pennants covering buildings on either side of the street; another painting of the same title features a one-legged man walking with crutches. Again depicting the same street, but this time in a different context, is Rue Mosnier with Pavers, in which men repair the roadway while people and horses move past.
In his mid-forties Manet's health deteriorated, and he developed severe pain and partial paralysis in his legs. In 1879 he began receiving hydrotherapy treatments intended to improve what he believed was a circulatory problem, but in reality he was suffering from locomotor ataxia, a known side-effect of syphilis.
In his last years Manet painted many small-scale still lifes of fruits and vegetables, such as Bunch of Asparagus and The Lemon (both 1880). He completed his last major work, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (Un Bar aux Folies-Bergère), in 1882 and it hung in the Salon that year. Afterwards he limited himself to small formats. His last paintings were of flowers in glass vases.
In April 1883, his left foot was amputated because of gangrene, and he died eleven days later in Paris. He is buried in the Passy Cemetery in the city.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia