To tell the truth; the peasant subjects suit my temperament best; for I must confess; even if you think me a socialist; that the human side of art is what touches me most. Jean-Franccedil;ois MilletJean-Franccedil;ois Millet (1814 ndash; 1875) was a French painter and one of the founders of the Barbizon school in rural France. Millet is noted for his scenes of peasant farmers; he can be categorized as part of the movements of Realism and Naturalism. Millet portrayed the gravity; hardship; and dignity of common agricultural laborers; but; despite being labeled a "Socialist revolutionary;" his viewpoint was less political than fatalistic. Millet learned Latin and knowledge of the major works of literature from village priests as a child; and in 1833 moved to Cherbourg to study painting. His first Salon submission; in 1939; but his second; a portrait; was accepted in 1840. After his first portrait was accepted by the Paris Salon; he returned to Cherbourg; to begin his career as a professional portrait painter. His first real Salon success was seven years later; in 1847; when he presented his panting The Winnower; which was bought by the government a year later. His success was short lived; however. The Captivity of the Jews in Israel was presented to the Salon in 1848; and it was scorned by the public and critics. This painting quickly disappeared; leading historians to think Millet had destroyed his own work. Occasional failure notwithstanding; Milletrsquo;s popularity grew throughout the 1860rsquo;s; and he received many commissions; hosting a major showing of his work in 1867 in the Exposition Universeille. The next year; he was named an officer of the National Legion of Honor; and in 1870 he was elected as a jury member at the Paris Salon. In 1875; three weeks before his death; Millet married his wife in a religious ceremony. They had been married in a civil ceremony in 1853. After he died; he left his wife and nine children destitute; spurring the invention of the droit de suite innovation; which allowed a certain portion of the sale or resale of an artistrsquo;s work to go to the artistrsquo;s family of heirs. His humanity toward peasant life deeply impressed many painters; including Vincent Van Gogh; Claude Monet; and Georges Seurat.
#1110298 in eBooks 2015-04-10 2015-04-10File Name: B00VX8XOI8
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An interesting art form and history; followed by detailed and breathtaking illustrationsBy Wayne A McCoyEnglish Wood-Engraving 1900-1950 by Thomas Balston is a history and sampling of wood engravings from the early twentieth century.The book tells the history of wood engraving; and talks about how it is different than woodcut drawings. Woodcuts are quite a bit older; wood engraving came into fashion with the invention of the moveable type and the need for finer illustration styles. Early illustrations were used in books and the style picked up when photographic techniques of the time failed to give fine reproductions of certain artists drawings. The history continues through the war years and beyond. Then its on to some samples of the work; and they are glorious. There are nature prints and abstracts and boats. Works for books and plays and natural histories. They are detailed and worth the small price of the book.Its a short little work and I quite enjoyed it as a break from my normal reading. Its a reprint from 1951 and I thank Dover for reprinting.I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fine ebook.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. You wont be dissapointedBy LeylaFor anyone that is interested in wood - engraving this is a wonderful book. Filled with images of the artist of the time - the fifty years to 1950. They are a pure delight and I found myself studying images and marvelling at the workmanship and hours spent in producing such wonderful works. There are images from Pissarro; Paul Nash; Edward Wadsworth; Tunnicliff (also on the cover) and Robert Gibbings - there are more of course; but these I loved. A great book to get your creative juices going.
