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Théodore Rousseau

French painter (1812-1867) · France · Artists · Died at 55

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He led a group of painters who turned their backs on Paris studios and moved to the edge of Fontainebleau forest, painting trees and light as serious subjects - before that was routine.

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A life in dates

1867Died22 December 1867“Do you see all those beautiful trees there ? I sketched them all thirty years ago; I have had all their portraits.”In their wordsSeptember 1867Quote of Th. Rousseau, Sept. 1867; recorded by ; as cited by Charles Sprague Smith, in Barbizon days, Millet-Corot-Rousseau-Barye;

1866“The news of our health is not good. My wife has been in agony several times, but she is having a little rest now.”In their wordsDecember 1866Quote from a letter to , Dec. 1866; as cited in Alfred Sensier, Souvenirs sur Th. Rousseau; quoted in The Barbizon School of Painters:

1856“..everything has conspired to keep from me the leisure and quiet which I could wish in order to answer you.”In their wordsQuote from Rousseau's letter to Ziem, 1856; as cited in The Barbizon School of Painters: Corot, Rousseau, Diaz, Millet, Daubigny, etc., by

1850“I heard the voices of the trees; the surprises of their movements.”In their wordsquote from a talk between Th. Rousseau and , 1850's; as cited in Barbizon days, Millet-Corot-Rousseau-Barye by Charles Sprague Smith, A.

1834“My good Mama, I am always the same.. ..always the same happy life, always fresh for seeing, vigorous for running, and diligent for one end..”In their wordsQuote of Th. Rousseau, in a letter to his mother, late Summer 1834, from the Alps, Switzerland; as cited in Barbizon days,

“We form at La Faucille now a little colony where concord and happiness reign, and have not even for enemies the bears of the country..”In their words17 August 1834Quote in a letter to Rousseau's mother, from the Jura, 17th August, 1834; as cited in The Barbizon School of Painters: Corot, Rousseau,

1812Born15 April 1812

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Theodore RousseauTheodore Rousseau31-8-26 (de g. à d.) Whitehouse, Rousseau, Mellon à la sortie des Affaires étrangères - btv1b53167149t31-8-26 (de g. à d.) Whitehouse, Rousseau, Mellon à la sortie des Affaires étrangères - btv1b53167149tA Sunlit Valley (Vallée encaissée))A Sunlit Valley (Vallée encaissée))Barbizon -Grande Rue (1)Barbizon -Grande Rue (1)Les peintres, Dupré, Rousseau, Isabey, Millet, Couture, Daubigny, Diaz, Corot, Troyon, Fromentin, Barye, Decamps, Courbet, Robert-Fleury, fragment du panorama sur l'Histoire du siècleLes peintres, Dupré, Rousseau, Isabey, Millet, Couture, Daubigny, Diaz, Corot, Troyon, Fromentin, Barye, Decamps, Courbet, Robert-Fleury, fragment du panorama sur l'Histoire du siècleMountain landscape with river and church on a hill LCCN2006675759Mountain landscape with river and church on a hill LCCN2006675759River landscape, the Seine at Chateau-Gaillard) - T.H.R LCCN92500428River landscape, the Seine at Chateau-Gaillard) - T.H.R LCCN92500428Thatched huts and windmill) - Th. R LCCN92500283Thatched huts and windmill) - Th. R LCCN92500283

In their own words 10

,
Théodore Rousseau
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Do you see all those beautiful trees there ? I sketched them all thirty years ago; I have had all their portraits.

    Sep 1867, Quote of Th. Rousseau, Sept. 1867; recorded by ; as cited by Charles Sprague Smith, in Barbizon days, Millet-Corot-Rousseau-Barye;, Own words

  2. The news of our health is not good. My wife has been in agony several times, but she is having a little rest now.

    Dec 1866, Quote from a letter to , Dec. 1866; as cited in Alfred Sensier, Souvenirs sur Th. Rousseau; quoted in The Barbizon School of Painters:, Own words

  3. Do not be anxious about [an ordered painting] 'La Ferme' my dear Mr.

    1865, In a letter to Mr. Hartmann, c. 1865; as quoted in The Painters of Barbizon I - Millet, Rousseau and Diaz, by John W. Mollett, B.A.; publ., Own words

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Awards

Knight of the Legion of Honour
Officer of the Legion of Honour

About this person

Théodore Rousseau was born on 15 April 1812 in France, into a world where landscape was considered minor work next to history painting. He became the central figure of the Barbizon school, named for the village where he and others set up to paint nature directly. The move marked a break: no more classical compositions assembled indoors, just the forest, the fields, the weather as it was. He worked until his death on 22 December 1867, leaving behind a body of work that shifted what painting could take seriously.

Country
France
Category
Artists
Type
Artist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1812 to 1867 · aged 55

Artists from France 6

Jules Dupré53.7Antoine-Louis Barye53.6Paul Landowski53.7ORLAN53.6Marie-Guillemine Benoist53.8Maurice Quentin de La Tour53.6

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