Priya Kapoor
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French landscape painter and printmaker, considered one of the greatest artists of the 19th century. Corot's paintings are known for their subtle use of tonality and their melancholic, nostalgic air. In 2018, Corot's painting Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons (1845) sold at Christie's for $9,009,844, an auction record for the artist. This paragraph will explore the factors that contributed to the high selling price of this painting and the impact of this sale on the value of Corot's works in the art market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons |
| Year of Painting | 1845 |
| Auction House | Christie's |
| Selling Price | $9,009,844 |
| Year of Sale | 2018 |
| Painter's Full Name | Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot |
| Painter's Birth Year | 1796 |
| Painter's Birthplace | Paris, France |
| Painter's Death Year | 1875 |
| Painter's Death Place | Paris, France |
| Painter's Art Genre | Landscapes, Portraits, Figure Studies |
| Painter's Art Media | Oil on Canvas, Sketches, Drawings, Etchings |
| Painter's Influences | Achille Etna Michallon, Jean-Victor Bertin, Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, Claude Lorrain |
| Painter's Notable Works | Hagar in the Wilderness, View at Narni, Roman Campagna, Woman with a Pearl, The Bridge at Narni |
| Painter's Influence | Precursor to Impressionist Movement, Influenced Monet, Renoir, Cézanne |
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What You'll Learn
Corot's Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons sold for $9,009,844 at Christie's in 2018
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French artist known for his plein-air painting practice and influence on the Impressionist movement. Landscapes were Corot's subject of choice, and he is considered a precursor to the Impressionist movement. He was also a printmaker, and his work in etching is also well-known.
Corot was born in Paris in 1796 and dedicated his life to art at the age of 25. He travelled extensively throughout the French countryside, producing sketches and studies of the landscape, but it was his early visits to paint ruins in Italy during the 1820s that solidified his style. He returned to Italy several times throughout his life and painted many of his most famous works there.
Corot's work was influential to the Impressionists, and his paintings are masterful in their subtle use of tonality and their overall melancholic, even nostalgic, air. In 1840, the government of France purchased one of his works, and in 1845, Corot painted Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons, which sold for $9,009,844 at Christie's in 2018, an auction record for the artist.
Today, Corot's works are held in the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the National Gallery in London, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, among others.
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Corot's paintings hang in the world's leading art museums
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, often referred to simply as Camille Corot, was a highly successful French painter and printmaker. He is considered one of the greatest artists of the 19th century and a precursor to the Impressionist movement. Corot's works can be found in several leading art museums around the world, including:
The Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Also known as the Musée du Louvre, this museum holds some of Corot's well-known pieces, including "Woman with a Pearl" from 1868-70 and "The Bridge at Narni" from 1826.
The Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia
This museum in Moscow is home to some of Corot's works, showcasing his influence on Russian art.
The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, USA
The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, is another prestigious museum that exhibits Corot's paintings, further emphasising his impact on American art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Also known as the MET, this museum in New York City houses Corot's painting "Hagar in the Wilderness," which was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1835 and is characteristic of his early work.
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg holds several works by Corot, including some of a specific size: 32.5 x 46.5 cm, 25.5 x 38 cm, and one of unknown dimensions.
The National Gallery, London, UK
The National Gallery in London exhibits Corot's works, including some of his early oil sketches from Italy, which were fresh and bright in their use of colour.
Other Museums
In addition to the aforementioned museums, Corot's paintings are also displayed in various other renowned institutions, such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Shelburne Museum in Vermont.
Corot's influence on landscape painting, including the Impressionists, was immense, particularly in his portrayal of light. His works are a testament to his dedication to his craft, and they continue to be celebrated and cherished in the world's leading art museums.
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Corot's early career and rise to fame
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was born in Paris, France, on either the 16th or 17th of July 1796. His parents, a wigmaker and a milliner, ran a successful business, and the family never wanted for money. Corot himself described his childhood self as a "big child, shy and awkward". He struggled academically and showed no interest in art until later in his youth.
Corot's first foray into the working world was as an apprentice to a draper, a profession he despised. At 25, he decided to pursue art, and his father supported him financially until he was 26, when he began receiving an annual allowance of 1500 francs from his sister. He studied under Achille Etna Michallon and, after Michallon's death, Jean-Victor Bertin, both students of the famed landscape painter Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes.
Corot travelled extensively through the French countryside, producing sketches and studies of the landscape, and his early style was solidified during visits to paint ruins in Italy in the 1820s. In 1825, he sent his first paintings to the Paris Salon: 'View at Narni' and 'Roman Campagna'. In 1827, he rented a studio on quai Voltaire.
In 1840, Corot's career received a boost when the French government purchased one of his works. Five years later, a glowing review from the poet Charles Baudelaire further propelled him into the spotlight. He was made a member of the Legion of Honor in 1846 and won a first-place medal for painting at the 1855 Paris Universal Exposition. By the 1850s, Corot's reputation was firmly established, and his style had evolved to become softer, with a more restricted colour palette.
Corot preferred the company of fellow painters and was particularly close with the Barbizon group, including Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau. He also taught younger painters, such as Camille Pissarro, who became an integral figure in the Impressionist movement.
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Corot's influence on the Impressionist movement
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French artist who played a crucial role in establishing landscape painting as a valued genre in France. He was also a precursor to the Impressionist movement, influencing it in several ways.
Firstly, Corot's use of natural light and soft, delicate brushstrokes in his landscapes was a key influence on the Impressionist style. His paintings captured the subtle gradations of light and tone, creating a sense of capturing a fleeting moment. This focus on light and spontaneity was a crucial step towards the rise of Impressionism, which embraced the fleeting style of sketches. Corot's interest in balance and precision in light and tonal gradations is evident in his painting "Island and Bridge of San Bartolomeo" (c. 1825).
Secondly, Corot's choice of subjects was also influential. While he often painted classical-inspired figures, some of his works featured peasants engaged in manual labour, such as "Peasants under the Trees at Dawn" (painted between 1840-1845). This subject matter reflected the Impressionists' interest in ordinary life and their desire to move away from solely classical themes.
Thirdly, Corot's teaching and mentorship of younger painters, such as Camille Pissarro, played a key role in disseminating his influence within the Impressionist movement. Pissarro, in particular, drew on Corot's delicate brushwork and use of light, developing a soft and loose style that influenced his own work and the Impressionist movement as a whole.
Finally, Corot's increasing use of an impressionistic style in his later works, marked by more apparent brushstrokes and a focus on tone, further solidified his influence on the Impressionists. By the mid-1850s, his style began to gain recognition, and he became known as one of the greatest landscape painters.
While Corot's influence on the Impressionist movement is undeniable, his oeuvre also reflects the tenets of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism, showcasing the complexity and breadth of his artistic achievements.
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Corot's paintings at auction and their estimated value
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French artist known for his plein-air painting practice and influence on the Impressionist movement. Landscapes were Corot's subject of choice, and he is internationally recognised for his masterful use of tonality and his works' overall melancholic, nostalgic air.
Corot's works can be found in many leading art museums globally, including the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Hermitage in St Petersburg, the National Gallery in London, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
In 2018, Corot's painting "Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons" (1845) sold at Christie's for $9,009,844, an auction record for the artist.
Some of Corot's other notable works include:
- "Woman with a Pearl" (1868-70), located at the Musee du Louvre
- "The Bridge at Narni" (1826), oil on paper, also located at the Musee du Louvre
- "Agar dans le desert" (1835), depicting Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, which created a buzz when it was first exhibited
While auction estimates for Corot's paintings vary depending on the piece, some examples of auction estimates for his works include:
- "Le torrent pierreux (crépuscule)", circa 1865-1870: estimated at $70,000 - $100,000
- "Landscape with shepherds and cow", oil on panel: estimated at 10,000 - 17,000 EUR
- "Paysanne avec ses deux vaches" (ca. 1865-70), oil on paper mounted on canvas: last sold in May 2025
- "The Church of Marissel", lithograph, after the original painted in 1866: last offered for auction in May 2025
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Frequently asked questions
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French landscape painter and printmaker who was born in Paris on July 16, 1796. He is considered one of the greatest artists of the 19th century and a precursor to the Impressionist movement.
Some of Corot's well-known pieces include "Woman with a Pearl" (1868-70), "The Bridge at Narni" (1826), and "Agar dans le desert" (1835).
In 2018, the artist’s "Venise, vue du Quai des Esclavons" (1845) was sold at Christie’s for $9,009,844, setting an auction record for Corot.
Corot was taught by Achille Etna Michallon and Jean-Victor Bertin, who were students of the landscape painter Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. He was also influenced by the landscapes of Claude Lorrain, whom he studied during his trips to Italy.
Corot's landscapes are known for their poetic and atmospheric quality, as well as his use of light and colour, which influenced the Impressionists. He also invented a genre called "Souvenirs", which were generic compositions of natural motifs drawn from his imagination rather than specific locations.
