Today on Impressionism Friday we are going to meet the amazing Frédéric Bazille, an artist whose life was cut tragically short when he died at only twenty-eight years old in The Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
In spite of his short life, Bazille took art to new heights and made a lasting impact that helped shake the world of traditional painting with the emergence of Impressionism.
Bazille was born on December 6th, 1841 in Montpellier France to a wealthy wine producing family.
He first became interested in art after seeing works by Eugene Delacroix. His parents encouraged him to learn art, but only if he would study medicine.
Bazille did not enjoy his medical studies and his family finally relented and allowed him to study painting full time. He began taking classes at Charles Gleyre’s studio here he studied alongside of Renoir, Monet and Sisley.
Bazille was generous with his wealth and happy to support his friends with studio space and providing them with art supplies.
He was only twenty-three when he painted his masterpiece The Pink Dress, a portrait of his cousin Therese des Hours. It is in the Musee d’Orsay.
His most famous painting is Family Reunion…As you look at the painting you feel as though you a guest who as just arrived on a hot summer afternoon for a family meal. Each member of the luncheon party has a different expression, from content to grumpy. Not different from how we might experience a meal with friends and family.
This scene is of Bazilles own family, who no doubt were trying to be supportive even if they didn’t feel like sitting for a portrait. That is what makes this such a riveting painting – it draws us into the scene as an active participant.
The Franco-Prussian War was believed to be an easy to win war for the French, but it was a disaster that forced France to give up parts of Alsace to Germany and saw Paris invaded. Monet, Pissarro and others left France during the war, but Bazille stayed.
He served in a Zouave regiment in August 1870, dying in with his unit at the Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande on November 28, 1870.
It is tragic to think of what the world lost in Bazille’s early passing, but we are certainly grateful that God graced us with the talent of Bazille even in a short life time.
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Art Expeditions is written by art lover and history buff Adele Lassiter. She also writes travel articles for American Nomad and is an acrylic artist.
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