Corot, Camille, << kaw ROH, ka MEE yuh >> (1796-1875), was a French landscape and figure painter. His work formed an artistic bridge between the tradition of classical composition of the early 1800’s and the Romantic movement’s concern with nature which led to Impressionism.
Corot began to study painting against his parents’ wishes. In 1825, he went to Italy, where he became concerned with the play of light and color values. He began painting in solid masses in order to produce light and dark patterns of color. Corot’s early work shows the influence of the French landscape painters, Claude (Lorrain) and Nicolas Poussin, and of the Dutch landscape painters of the 1600’s.
Corot returned to France in 1828 and traveled a great deal, because a small income left him free from economic worries. He came under the influence of a group of nature painters in the village of Barbizon. Corot was called “the lyric poet” of this group. He changed his style, and began painting everything as if seen through a delicate gray veil, accented by a few details of bright color. Corot’s artistic style underwent a final change in 1871. He again painted in the style of his youth, but his works were now drenched in Impressionist light and color.
Corot painted portraits for his own pleasure throughout his career. He also painted religious pictures. His portraits, along with his early and last paintings, are considered his best works. Corot was born Jean Baptiste Camille Corot on July 17, 1796, in Paris. He died on Feb. 22, 1875.
