Early Life and Artistic Debut

Jacques Joseph Tissot, Anglicized as James Tissot (/ˈtɪsoʊ/), was a French painter and illustrator born on October 15, 1836, in Nantes, France. His father, Marcel Théodore Tissot, was a successful drapery merchant, and his mother, Marie Durand, designed hats. Tissot's early life in Nantes likely influenced his frequent depiction of shipping vessels and boats in his later works.

Artistic Career

Tissot began his artistic journey in 1856 or 1857 when he travelled to Paris to pursue an education in art. He enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, studying under Hippolyte Flandrin and Louis Lamothe. In 1859, Tissot exhibited in the Paris Salon for the first time, showcasing five paintings of scenes from the Middle Ages.

• Walk in the Snow, supplied by Émile Péreire, was displayed at the 1862 international exhibition in London.
• Three paintings by Tissot were displayed at the gallery of art dealer Ernest Gambart in London.
• Tissot's work, The Meeting of Faust and Marguerite, was purchased by the French government for 5,000 francs in 1860.

Mature Life and Career

After serving in the Franco-Prussian War on the side of France and later the Paris Commune, Tissot moved to London in 1871. He found further success as an artist and began a relationship with Irishwoman Kathleen Newton, who lived with him as a close companion and muse until her death in 1882. Notable Works:

• Joseph Interprets the Dreams While In Prison
• Tea, a repetition of one of his most famous London pictures, Bad News
• View more works by James Jacques Joseph Tissot on WahooArt

Legacy

Tissot maintained close relations with the Impressionist movement, including Edgar Degas and James Abbott Whistler. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1894. Tissot's work continues to be celebrated for its elegance and insight into the lives of European high society during the Belle Époque and Victorian England. Discover more about Tissot's contemporaries and their contributions to the art world on WahooArt.