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| | Édouard Manet ( January 23, 1832, Paris - April 30, 1883, Paris) - French painter, engraver & one of the founders of Impressionism.
Youth:
Edouard Manet was born in house No 5 on Bonaparte street in Paris quarter of Saint Germain des Pres to Auguste Manet, Head of Department in the Ministry of Justice & Eugenie - Desiree Fournier, daughter of French diplomat & former Consul in Gothenburg. Swedish King Charles XIII was godfather of Manet's mother. In 1839, Manet was sent to study at Canon Poiloup's School & later, due to his absolute indifference towards education, his father transferred him to "full boarding" College Rollin, where he studied during the period from 1844 to 1848 without showing up much success.
In spite of strong desire of Manet to become a painter, Manet's father, who wanted his son to choose a lawyer's career, strongly opposed art education of Manet. However, mother's brother, Edmond Edouard Fournier, understanding the boy's artistic vocation, advised him to attend special lectures on painting, for which he enrolled his nephew nephew & also personally paid the expenditure. Thanks to Uncle Edmond, who regularly accompanied the boy to museums, Manet discovered Louvre for himself, which had a decisive impact on his personal & creative life. Painting lessons, curiously enough, did not arouse expected interest in Manet, largely because of academic teaching quality & instead of making sculptures using plaster, the boy preferred to paint portraits of his colleagues, who soon became a model for many of his classmates.
Journey to Brazil:
In 1848, after completing the education, young Manet faced stiff opposition from his father on his decision to become a painter. Some sort of compromise was made when Manet decided to enroll in navy school in 1847, however, Manet failed the entrance exams miserably (total lack of education from Manet was visible). Nevertheless, he was allowed to go on a training voyage on sailing ship "Havre and Guadeloupe" as preparation for re-examinations.
While on voyage, ship, in particular, visited Brazil. Exotic and rich colors of tropical countries strengthened his desire to learn pictorial art - from trip, Manet brought large number of drawings, sketches and etudes. Often, he used crew members as models.
Numerous letters, written by Manet to his relatives while on this journey, were stored, in which he described his impressions on carnival in Rio & exotic beauty of Brazilian women. On the other hand, he was critic on slavery & possible restoration of monarchy in France. One tenth of subsequent works by Manet comprises of sea landscapes & his sea journey to Brazil was instrumental in him deciding to make sea landscapes.
Establishment:
In July 1849, after returning to Paris, Manet once again made an unsuccessful attempt to clear the entrance examination of Naval School. This time, Manet's father, after considering the numerous drawings, brought from his trip, had no doubt in artistic vocation of his son & advised him to take admission in Paris School of Fine Arts (École des Beaux-Arts). But, fearing the very rigid and academic program in the school, in 1850, Manet joined the studio of Thomas Couture, who was fashionable during that period & who became famous thanks to monumental canvas "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire" in 1847.
Particularly, this is the period when the conflict starts to flare between Manet and Classical Roman tradition of painting, that prevailed at that time in France. Ultimately, sharp aversion towards bourgeois style resulted in clear break-up of Manet with Couture & the young artist left the studio of teacher. However, on the request of father, Manet was compelled to apologize and return back to studio, though he retained his aversion towards strict academism of Couture.
Situation worsened for the young artist with an unwanted pregnancy of his long-standing sweetheart Suzanne Leenhoff. To avoid infamy and anger of father, paternity of Koella was attributed to Manet or fictitious only for the mayor's office. Another version also made rounds that the newborn was not son but brother of Suzanne. |
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This Monday the artistic world has celebrated the 180th birthday of Edouard Manet - the French artist who greatly contributed to impressionism and realism movement in art. Prior to becoming an artist, Manet twice failed the examination to join the navy, after which he decided to pursue a career in art, where his talents were quickly discovered. Manet studied under the academic painter Thomas Couture, a painter of large historical paintings. In his spare time he copied the old masters in the Louvre.
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