National Gallery of Art
April 9–July 9, 2017
Frédéric Bazille, Portraits of the *** Family, called The Family Gathering, 1867
oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris, purchased with the assistance of Marc Bazille, 1924
Frédéric Bazille (1841–1870) created paintings inspired by contemporary life that challenged the aesthetic conventions of his day and helped to lay the groundwork of impressionism. In celebration of the 175th anniversary of the artist's birth, Frédéric Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism brings together some 75 paintings that examine Bazille as a central figure of impressionism. The National Gallery of Art, which holds the largest group of Bazille's works outside of France, as well as important related impressionist paintings of the 1860s, is the sole American venue for the exhibition. The first major presentation of Bazille's work in America in 25 years, the exhibition is on view in the East Building from April 9 through July 9, 2017.
Bazille was actively engaged with the most significant pictorial issues of his era—the revival of the still-life form, realist landscapes, plein-air figural painting, and the modern nude. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant cultural life of Paris as well as from his native Provence, Bazille painted with a style that was distinctly his own.
"This exhibition shows Bazille's key role in the developments of French painting and provides new insight into this period of impressionism," said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art, Washington. "The outstanding partnership between the National Gallery of Art, the Musée Fabre in Montpelier, and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris made it possible to undertake this new study of Bazille's work. We are delighted to reveal brand-new scientific examinations that offer new analyses, identifications, dates, and attributions."
The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington; the Musée Fabre, Montpellier; and the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Exhibition Highlights
Frédéric Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism is the most comprehensive retrospective of Bazille's career, featuring nearly three-quarters of his artistic output. Organized thematically, this exhibition juxtaposes works by Bazille with important works by the predecessors who inspired him—Théodore Rousseau, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and Gustave Courbet—and by contemporaries such as Édouard Manet and Claude Monet with whom he was closely associated.
"Frédéric Bazille is such an extraordinary talent, though he still remains relatively unknown. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to bring together the majority of the artist's work for the first time in almost 25 years," said Kimberly A. Jones, curator of 19th-century French paintings, National Gallery of Art. "They are remarkable paintings and people are going to be astonished by their quality and their vibrancy. It is such a pleasure to be able to introduce Bazille to a new generation of admirers."
The exhibition begins with his student works, self-portraits, still lifes, small portraits, and luminous landscapes painted in the forest of Fontainebleau and the coast of Normandy. Portraits of fellow artists are juxtaposed with interior scenes of Bazille's studio depicting the dynamic circle of avant-garde artists and writers to which he belonged. The fifth and sixth galleries explore Bazille's plein-air figural paintings, created while he was in Montpellier, and the male and female nude as subjects. The exhibition continues with a gallery dedicated to floral still-life paintings and concludes with a return to outdoors with seascapes painted in the south of France.
In preparation for this exhibition, the National Gallery of Art and the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Paris (C2RMF), performed extensive conservation and research on nearly half of the artist's known works. In 11 of those paintings, earlier compositions of fruit, flowers, or figural works were discovered underneath the surface of the visible painting.
The conservation efforts revealed Young Woman at the Piano—Bazille's first submission to the Salon in 1866 and a work previously believed to have been lost—underneath Ruth and Boaz (1870), as well as a study of Renior's 1867 painting Diana the Huntress beneath The Studio on the Rue La Condamine (1869–1870).
Curators, Catalog, and Related Activities
The exhibition was organized by Kimberly A. Jones, curator of 19th-century French paintings, National Gallery of Art; Michel Hilaire, General Heritage Curator, director of the Musée Fabre, Montpellier; and Paul Perrin, curator of paintings, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Made possible in part thanks to the support of the American Friends of the Musée d'Orsay, the 300-page, fully illustrated exhibition catalog includes scholarly essays by Jones, Hilaire, and Perrin, a detailed chronology, maps, and a family tree. Published by Flammarion, the catalog is available in hardcover.
Frédéric
Bazille
Soup
Bowl Lids, 1864
oil
on canvas
27
x 35 x 1.6 cm (10 5/8 x 13 3/4 x 5/8 in.)
framed:
41.5 x 49.7 x 5.5 cm (16 5/16 x 19 9/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Reclining
Nude, 1864
oil
on canvas
unframed:
70.5 x 190.5 x 2.7 cm (27 3/4 x 75 x 1 1/16 in.)
framed:
88.5 x 199.5 x 8 cm (34 13/16 x 78 9/16 x 3 1/8 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Dog Rita, Asleep, 1864
oil
on canvas
unframed:
38 x 46 cm (14 15/16 x 18 1/8 in.)
Private
collection
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Scoter-Duck, 1864
oil
on canvas
43
x 39 cm (16 15/16 x 15 3/8 in.)
framed:
72.5 x 63.5 x 11 cm (28 9/16 x 25 x 4 5/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine, copy after Veronese, 1863
oil
on canvas
125
x 125 cm (49 3/16 x 49 3/16 in.)
framed:
174 x 174 x 30 cm (68 1/2 x 68 1/2 x 11 13/16 in.)
Commune
de Beaune-la-Rolande
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Pink Dress, 1864
oil
on canvas
147
x 110 cm (57 7/8 x 43 5/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, bequest of Marc Bazille, 1924
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Artist's Studio on the Rue de Furstenberg, 1865
oil
on canvas
81.2
x 65 x 1.8 cm (31 15/16 x 25 9/16 x 11/16 in.)
framed:
98.5 x 82.5 x 6.5 cm (38 3/4 x 32 1/2 x 2 9/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Self
Portrait with Palette, 1865
oil
on canvas
108.9
x 71.1 cm (42 7/8 x 28 in.)
framed:
135 x 80 cm (53 1/8 x 31 1/2 in.)
The
Art Institute of Chicago, restricted gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Woods in
memory of Mrs. Edward
Harris Brewer
Frédéric Bazille
Self-Portrait
with Detachable Collar, 1867-1868
oil
on canvas
54
x 46 cm (21 1/4 x 18 1/8 in.)
framed:
74.3 x 66 x 7.62 cm (29 1/4 x 26 x 3 in.)
Lent
by The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The John R. Van Derlip Fund
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Beach at Sainte-Adresse, 1865
oil
on canvas
58.4
x 140 cm (23 x 55 1/8 in.)
framed:
88.3 x 169.5 x 14.61 cm (34 3/4 x 66 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
High
Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; Gift of the Forward Arts Foundation in honor
of Frances
Floyd
Cocke
Frédéric Bazille
Forest
of Fontainebleau, 1865
oil
on canvas
60
x 73 cm (23 5/8 x 28 3/4 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, gift of Mrs. Fantin-Latour, 1905
Frédéric
Bazille
Landscape
at Chailly, 1865
oil
on canvas
81
x 100.3 cm (31 7/8 x 39 1/2 in.)
The
Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection
Frédéric
Bazille
Village
Street, Chailly, 1865
oil
on canvas
32.5
x 24.5 x 1.7 cm (12 13/16 x 9 5/8 x 11/16 in.)
framed:
47.5 x 39.5 x 4 cm (18 11/16 x 15 9/16 x 1 9/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Improvised Field Hospital, 1865
oil
on canvas
48
x 65 cm (18 7/8 x 25 9/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris
Frédéric
Bazille
Two
Herrings, 1864
oil
on canvas
41
x 27.5 x 2.5 cm (16 1/8 x 10 13/16 x 1 in.)
framed:
55 x 42 x 7 cm (21 5/8 x 16 9/16 x 2 3/4 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Still
Life with Fish, 1866
oil
on canvas
unframed:
62 x 81.3 cm (24 7/16 x 32 in.)
Detroit
Institute of Arts, Purchased by the Founders Society, Robert H. Tannahill
Foundation.Fund
Frédéric
Bazille
Little
Italian Street Singer, 1866
oil
on canvas
131
x 98 x 3 cm (51 9/16 x 38 9/16 x 1 3/16 in.)
framed:
150 x 117 x 7.3 cm (59 1/16 x 46 1/16 x 2 7/8 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Terrace at Méric, 1867
oil
on canvas
framed:
115.5 x 148.5 x 7.5 cm (45 1/2 x 58 7/16 x 2 15/16 in.)
unframed:
97 x 128 cm (38 3/16 x 50 3/8 in.)
Association
des Amis du Petit Palais, Geneve
Frédéric
Bazille
Young
Woman with Lowered Eyes, 1868
oil
on canvas
unframed:
46 x 38 cm (18 1/8 x 14 15/16 in.)
Private
collection
Frédéric
Bazille
A
Studio on the Rue Visconti, 1867
oil
on canvas
64.8
x 48.3 cm (25 1/2 x 19 in.)
framed:
87.2 x 70.8 x 10 cm (34 5/16 x 27 7/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Virginia
Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Western Ramparts at Aigues-Mortes, 1867
oil
on canvas
overall:
60 x 100 cm (23 5/8 x 39 3/8 in.)
framed:
78.7 x 116.2 x 7 cm (31 x 45 3/4 x 2 3/4 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Frédéric Bazille
Porte
de la Reine at Aigues-Mortes, 1867
oil
on canvas
80.6
x 99.7 cm (31 3/4 x 39 1/4 in.)
framed:
105.7 x 125.4 x 12.7 cm (41 5/8 x 49 3/8 x 5 in.)
Lent
by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Gift of Raymonde Paul, in memory
of her
brother,
C. Michael Paul, by exchange, 1988
Frédéric
Bazille
The
Ramparts at Aigues-Mortes, 1867
oil
on canvas
46
x 75.5 x 8.5 cm (18 1/8 x 29 3/4 x 3 3/8 in.)
framed:
67 x 76 x 12.5 cm (26 3/8 x 29 15/16 x 4 15/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Oleanders,
1867
oil
on canvas
55.2
x 91.4 cm (21 3/4 x 36 in.)
framed:
81.3 x 116.8 x 10.2 cm (32 x 46 x 4 in.)
Cincinnati
Art Museum, Gift of Mark P. Herschede
Frédéric Bazille
Portraits
of the *** Family, called The Family Gathering, 1867
oil
on canvas
152
x 230 cm (59 13/16 x 90 9/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, purchased with the assistance of Marc Bazille, 1924
Frédéric
Bazille
Still
Life with Heron, 1867
oil
on canvas
98
x 78 x 3 cm (38 9/16 x 30 11/16 x 1 3/16 in.)
framed:
116 x 97 x 10 cm (45 11/16 x 38 3/16 x 3 15/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
View
of the Village, 1868
oil
on canvas
137.5
x 85.5 x 2.5 cm (54 1/8 x 33 11/16 x 1 in.)
framed:
157 x 107 x 8 cm (61 13/16 x 42 1/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Fisherman
with a Net, 1868
oil
on canvas
137.8
x 86.6 cm (54 1/4 x 34 1/8 in.)
framed:
165.5 x 116 x 11 cm (65 3/16 x 45 11/16 x 4 5/16 in.)
weight:
60.186 lb. (27.3 kg)
Arp
Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck / Sammlung Rau für UNICEF
Frédéric
Bazille
Studies
for a Grape Harvest, 1868
oil
on canvas
38
x 90 cm (14 15/16 x 35 7/16 in.)
framed:
52 x 106.5 cm (20 1/2 x 41 15/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Pierre
Auguste Renoir, 1868-1869
oil
on canvas
61.2
x 50 cm (24 1/8 x 19 11/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, on loan from the National Fine Art Museum of Algiers
Frédéric
Bazille
Portrait
of Alphonse Tissié in Cavalryman's Uniform, 1868-1869
oil
on canvas
61.5
x 50.5 x 4 cm (24 3/16 x 19 7/8 x 1 9/16 in.)
framed:
81.5 x 71.5 x 9.5 cm (32 1/16 x 28 1/8 x 3 3/4 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric Bazille
Edmond
Maître, 1869
oil
on canvas
overall:
83.2 x 64 cm (32 3/4 x 25 3/16 in.)
framed:
109.2 x 90.2 x 8.9 cm (43 x 35 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Frédéric Bazille
Summer
Scene (Bathers), 1869
oil
on canvas
160
x 160.7 cm (63 x 63 1/4 in.)
framed:
192.1 x 192.4 x 12.4 cm (75 5/8 x 75 3/4 x 4 7/8 in.)
Harvard
Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. F. Meynier de Salinelles
Frédéric Bazille
The
Fortune-Teller, 1868
oil
on canvas
unframed:
61 x 46 cm (24 x 18 1/8 in.)
Private
collection
Frédéric Bazille
Édouard
Blau, 1866
oil
on canvas
overall:
59.5 x 43.2 cm (23 7/16 x 17 in.)
framed:
69.5 x 53 x 5.1 cm (27 3/8 x 20 7/8 x 2 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Chester Dale Collection
Frédéric
Bazille
La
Toilette, 1870
oil
on canvas
130
x 128 x 2.7 cm (51 3/16 x 50 3/8 x 1 1/16 in.)
framed:
152.2 x 148.5 x 8.5 cm (59 15/16 x 58 7/16 x 3 3/8 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Bazille's
Studio or The Studio on the Rue La Condamine, 1870
oil
on canvas
98
x 128.5 cm (38 9/16 x 50 9/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, bequest of Marc Bazille, 1924
Frédéric
Bazille
Flowers,
1869-1870
oil
on canvas
63
x 48.5 x 3.3 cm (24 13/16 x 19 1/8 x 1 5/16 in.)
framed:
87.3 x 73.3 x 10 cm (34 3/8 x 28 7/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric Bazille
Young
Woman with Peonies, 1870
oil
on canvas
overall:
60 x 75 cm (23 5/8 x 29 1/2 in.)
framed:
83.8 x 99.4 x 7.6 cm (33 x 39 1/8 x 3 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Frédéric
Bazille
Young
Woman with Peonies, 1870
oil
on canvas
60.5
x 75.4 x 3.7 cm (23 13/16 x 29 11/16 x 1 7/16 in.)
framed:
83 x 97.5 x 10 cm (32 11/16 x 38 3/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric Bazille
Study
for a Young Male Nude, 1870
oil
on canvas
147.5
x 138 x 3.5 cm (58 1/16 x 54 5/16 x 1 3/8 in.)
framed:
168 x 159.5 x 9 cm (66 1/8 x 62 13/16 x 3 9/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Frédéric
Bazille
Landscape
on the Banks of Lez, 1870
oil
on canvas
137.2
x 200.7 cm (54 x 79 in.)
framed:
168.3 x 232.4 x 10.2 cm (66 1/4 x 91 1/2 x 4 in.)
Frédéric
Bazille
Ruth
and Boaz, 1870
oil
on canvas
137.5
x 202.8 x 4 cm (54 1/8 x 79 13/16 x 1 9/16 in.)
framed:
162.3 x 228 x 9 cm (63 7/8 x 89 3/4 x 3 9/16 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Paul
Cézanne
Bather
and Rocks, 1860-1866
oil
on canvas
167.6
x 105.4 cm (66 x 41 1/2 in.)
framed:
196.2 x 133 x 8.9 cm (77 1/4 x 52 3/8 x 3 1/2 in.)
Chrysler
Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
Paul Cézanne
The
Stove in the Studio, about 1865
oil
on canvas
41
x 30 cm (16 1/8 x 11 13/16 in.)
framed:
59 x 45.7 x 9.5 cm (23 1/4 x 18 x 3 3/4 in.)
The
National Gallery, London. Acquired from the estate of Mrs. Helen Chester Beatty
under the
acceptance-in-lieu
procedure, 1992.
Jean-Baptiste-Camille
Corot
The
Artist's Studio, c. 1868
oil
on wood
overall:
61.8 x 40 cm (24 5/16 x 15 3/4 in.)
framed:
78.4 x 56.5 cm (30 7/8 x 22 1/4 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection
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Attributed
to Eugène Delacroix
Corner
of the Studio, between 1825 and 1850
oil
on canvas
51
x 43.4 cm (20 1/16 x 17 1/16 in.)
framed:
71 x 64 cm (27 15/16 x 25 3/16 in.)
Musée
du Louvre, Gift of the Société des Amis du Louvre, 1913
Paul
Guigou
Washerwomen
on the Banks of the Durance, 1866
oil
on canvas
overall:
66 x 115 cm (26 x 45 1/4 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Chester Dale Fund
Edouard
Manet
Eel
and Red Mullet, 1864
oil
on canvas
38
x 46.5 cm (14 15/16 x 18 5/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Albert Charpentier, 1951
Edouard
Manet
Peony
Stems and Pruning Shears, 1864
oil
on canvas
56.6
x 46 cm (22 5/16 x 18 1/8 in.)
framed:
81.3 x 71.8 x 10.4 cm (32 x 28 1/4 x 4 1/8 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, legacy of Comte Isaac de Camondo, 1911
Claude
Monet
The
Beach at Honfleur, 1864
oil
on canvas
60
x 81 cm (23 5/8 x 31 7/8 in.)
framed:
87 x 109.2 x 8.7 cm (34 1/4 x 43 x 3 7/16 in.)
Los
Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Reese Hale Taylor
Claude
Monet
Spring
Flowers, 1864
oil
on canvas
116.8
x 90.5 cm (46 x 35 5/8 in.)
framed:
144.5 x 117.2 x 12.1 cm (56 7/8 x 46 1/8 x 4 3/4 in.)
The
Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Hanna Fund
Claude
Monet
Portrait
of Bazille at the Farm of Saint-Siméon, 1864
oil
on panel
40.5
x 31.5 x 8.2 cm (15 15/16 x 12 3/8 x 3 1/4 in.)
framed:
66 x 57.8 x 11.7 cm (26 x 22 3/4 x 4 5/8 in.)
Musée
Fabre, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
Claude
Monet
Promenade
(The Route to the Farm of Saint-Siméon), 1864
oil
on canvas
81.6
x 46.4 cm (32 1/8 x 18 1/4 in.)
The
National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo. Matsukata Collection
Claude
Monet
Rue
de la Bavole, Honfleur, c. 1864
oil
on canvas
55.9
x 61 cm (22 x 24 in.)
framed:
76.8 x 83.2 x 11.4 cm (30 1/4 x 32 3/4 x 4 1/2 in.)
Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston. Bequest of John T. Spaulding
Claude
Monet
Bazille
and Camille (Study for "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe"), 1865
oil
on canvas
overall:
93 x 68.9 cm (36 5/8 x 27 1/8 in.)
framed:
121.9 x 98.4 x 10.7 cm (48 x 38 3/4 x 4 3/16 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Claude
Monet
Women
in the Garden, 1866
oil
on canvas
255
x 205 cm (100 3/8 x 80 11/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris
Claude
Monet
Sainte-Adresse,
1867
oil
on canvas
overall:
57 x 80 cm (22 7/16 x 31 1/2 in.)
framed:
76.2 x 99.7 x 6.9 cm (30 x 39 1/4 x 2 11/16 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Catherine Gamble Curran and Family, in
Honor ofthe
50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Berthe
Morisot
The
Harbor at Lorient, 1869
oil
on canvas
overall:
43.5 x 73 cm (17 1/8 x 28 3/4 in.)
framed:
64.7 x 95.2 x 7.6 cm (25 1/2 x 37 1/2 x 3 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Auguste
Renoir
Diana,
1867
oil
on canvas
overall:
199.5 x 129.5 cm (78 9/16 x 51 in.)
framed:
222.6 x 159.1 cm (87 5/8 x 62 5/8 in.)
National
Gallery of Art, Washington, Chester Dale Collection
Auguste Renoir
Frédéric
Bazille, 1867
oil
on canvas
105
x 73.5 cm (41 5/16 x 28 15/16 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, on long-term loan at Musée Fabre/Montpellier, bequest of Marc
Bazille,
1924
Auguste
Renoir
Lise
Sewing, c. 1867-1868
oil
on canvas
56.52
x 46.36 cm (22 1/4 x 18 1/4 in.)
framed:
79.38 x 70.17 x 7.3 cm (31 1/4 x 27 5/8 x 2 7/8 in.)
Dallas
Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection
Auguste
Renoir
Boy
with Cat, 1868
oil
on canvas
123.5
x 66 cm (48 5/8 x 26 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris
Cat.
No. 129
Gilbert de Séverac
Claude
Monet, 1865
oil
on canvas
unframed:
40 x 32 cm (15 3/4 x 12 5/8 in.)
Musée
Marmottan Monet, Paris
oil
on canvas
80
x 100 x 3.2 cm (31 1/2 x 39 3/8 x 1 1/4 in.)
framed:
96.5 x 113.5 x 8 cm (38 x 44 11/16 x 3 1/8 in.)
Musée
d'Orsay, Paris, on long-term loan at Musée Fabre/Montpellier, gift of Mrs.
Pierre Goujon, 1971
