7. Gustave Caillebotte
Not only a prolific and talented artist, Gustave Caillebotte (born August 19, 1848 in Paris – died February 21, 1894, Gennevilliers) was one of the most important figures in the history of art. Born into a prominent and wealthy family Caillebotte invested much of his fortune into works by his fellow Impressionists. He was their friend, their patron, and their colleague. It was argued that his unwavering support for the movement is largely responsible for its very survival. Caillebotte himself painted in a more realistic manner while at the same time you will see many of the key elements of the Impressionist cannons featuring prominently in his works.
His most famous work, ‘Paris Street, Rainy Day‘ 1877 is a testament to the radical transformation the city underwent under Baron Haussmann’s urban reconstruction program commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III. In contrast, the painting below is a great example of the typically impressionistic brushwork and subject matter: summertime, leisure, countryside.
Gustave Caillebotte, ‘The Canoes’, 1878. Oil on canvas. In the collection of Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, Rennes, France
