Jules Bastien-Lepage was a French painter closely associated with the beginning of naturalism, an artistic style that emerged from the later phase of the Realist movement. Born on November 1, 1848, in the village of Damvillers, Meuse, France, Bastien-Lepage spent his childhood there, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Early Life and Training
Bastien-Lepage's father grew grapes in a vineyard to support the family. His grandfather also lived in the village; his garden had fruit trees of apple, pear, and peach up against the high walls. Bastien took an early liking to drawing, and his parents fostered his creativity by buying prints of paintings for him to copy. Jules Bastien-Lepage's first teacher was his father, himself an artist. His first formal training was at Verdun.
Artistic Career
In 1867, Bastien-Lepage went to Paris, where he was admitted to the École des Beaux-arts, working under Cabanel. He was awarded first place for drawing but spent most of his time working alone, only occasionally appearing in class. Nevertheless, he completed three years at the école. During the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, Bastien fought and was wounded. After the war, he returned home to paint the villagers and recover from his wound.
In 1873, he painted
Portrait of my Grandfather, a work that would bring the artist his first success at the Paris Salon. His initial success was confirmed in 1875 by the
First Communion, a picture of a little girl minutely worked up in manner that was compared to
Hans Holbein. He also showed
Song of Spring, an academically oriented study of rural life, representing a peasant girl sitting on a knoll above a village, surrounded by wood nymphs.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Some of his notable works include:
Bastien-Lepage's work can be found on
WahooArt.com, where you can explore his art and learn more about his life and career. You can also visit the
Musée d'Orsay website to see some of his notable works.
Legacy
Bastien-Lepage was recognized in France as the leader of the emerging Naturalist school. By 1883, a critic could proclaim that "The whole world paints so much today like M. Bastien-Lepage that M. Bastien-Lepage seems to paint like the whole world." This fame brought him prominent commissions. He died on December 10, 1884, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and thought-provoking art.
You can learn more about Jules Bastien-Lepage's life and work by visiting
WahooArt.com or checking out his page on
Wikipedia. His art continues to inspire and influence artists to this day, and his legacy as a pioneer of naturalism remains strong.
Naturalism and
Realism are some of the key movements that defined Bastien-Lepage's career.