Theodule Augustine Ribot, born on August 8, 1823, in Saint-Nicolas-d'Attez, was a French realist painter and printmaker. He studied at the École des Arts et Métiers de Châlons before moving to Paris in 1845, where he found work decorating gilded frames for a mirror manufacturer.
Early Career
Although Ribot received some artistic training while working as an assistant to Auguste-Barthélémy Glaize, he was mostly self-taught as a painter. After a trip to Algeria around 1848, he returned to Paris in 1851 and continued to make his living as an artisan. In the late 1850s, Ribot began to paint seriously, depicting everyday subjects in a realistic style.
Artistic Style
Ribot's preference was for painting directly from nature, emphasizing the contrasts of light and dark. His use of chiaroscuro to suggest psychological states grew from his admiration for Spanish and Dutch baroque masters such as Ribera and Rembrandt. This enthusiasm was shared by his contemporaries Courbet and Bonvin. Members of Ribot's family were the likely models for many of his figure compositions, in which the subjects engage in humble activities.
Notable Works
Some of Ribot's notable works include:
Exhibitions and Awards
Ribot made his Salon debut in 1861 with four paintings of kitchen subjects. His paintings in the Salons of 1864 and 1865 were awarded medals. In 1878, Ribot received the
Légion d'honneur. For more information on Ribot's works, visit
Theodule Augustine Ribot | WahooArt.com.
Legacy
Although the realism of Ribot's work aligns him with the most progressive artists of the generation preceding the Impressionists, he was no revolutionary. His work met with a generally favorable response from the public and critics. To learn more about
Theodule Augustine Ribot and other French realist painters, visit
Artists | WahooArt.com. For a deeper understanding of his artistic style and influences, check out the
Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi on
WahooArt.com.