Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - The Artist’s Studio

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - The Artist’s Studio, a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

In later life, Corot’s studio was filled with students, models, friends, collectors, and dealers who came and went under the tolerant eye of the master, causing him to quip, “Why is it that there are ten of you around me, and not one of you thinks to relight my pipe.” Dealers snapped up his works and his prices were often above 4,000 francs per painting. With his success secured, Corot gave generously of his money and time. He became an elder of the artists’ community and would use his influence to gain commissions for other artists.

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot - The Seine Landscape Near Chatou [1855]

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot - The Seine Landscape Near Chatou [1855], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

In contrast to the powerful realism of light that characterised the first half of his oeuvre, after 1850 much of Corot’s work was devoted to dream-like depictions of atmospheric evenings with water reflecting mild light and subtle transitions from silver-grey to green. Even when particular places are portrayed, Chatou is not far from the painter’s parental home in Ville-d’Avray, Corot still interpreted these, as he himself said, “as much with my heart as with my eyes.”

[Oil on canvas, 37 x 64 cm]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Seine and Old Bridge at Limay [1872]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Seine and Old Bridge at Limay [1872], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

[Oil on canvas, 40.60 x 66 cm]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - A Flood [c.1870-75]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - A Flood [c.1870-75], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

A river runs from the left of the picture to the bottom right corner. The restricted colour range is typical of Corot's late work. The predominance of greys combined with the numerous reflections on the surface of the river help to obscure the meeting of land and water. This late, possibly unfinished, painting was first described in Robaut's 1905 catalogue of Corot's work as Le Cap Boisé, (The Wooded Headland).

[Oil on canvas, 54 x 65.1 cm]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Cows in a Marshy Landscape [c.1860-70]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Cows in a Marshy Landscape [c.1860-70], originally uploaded by Gandalf's Gallery.

No site has been identified for this painting which was probably painted in the studio. The pastoral subject was one that Corot returned to time and again in his later years. The trees on the left are painted in silvery tones which are typical of his late style.

[Oil on canvas, 24.1 x 34.9 cm]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Avignon From The West [1836]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - Avignon From The West [1836], originally uploaded by Gandalf's Gallery.

Corot visited Avignon on a number of occasions, but this study probably belongs to a group made on a visit in the summer of 1836 which recapture the clarity and luminosity of his Italian views of 1825-28. It depicts the town from Villeneuve-lès-Avignon on the other side of the Rhône. The buildings dominating the town are the papal palace and (left of centre) the cathedral, Notre-Dame des Doms.

[Oil on canvas, 34 x 73.2 cm]