Fredrick Bazille:His Works

Negro Woman with Peonies

Frederic was fist introduced to the paintings by Delacroix and Courbet by Alfred Bruyas, a family friend and art collector. Gleyre emphasized the importance of originality, and Bazille once said "Thanks to Gleyre's teaching, I shall at least be able to boast that I have not copied anybody." He was interested in figures rather than pure landscape, and his work is of interest for its exploration of the effects of light on flesh tones (e.g. Family on the Terrace, 1867, Paris, Musee d'Orsay). Much of his work retained a high finish and dark palette (e.g. Negro Woman and Peonies, 1870, Montpellier Musee Fabre).

He was also a portraitist and recorder of the Impressionist scene (e.g. Studio in the Rue de la Condamini, 1870, Paris, Musee d'Orsay). The main artistic influences observed in Bazille's works came from Courbet and Manet. In 1864 Bazille and Monet met the marine landscape painters Boudin and Jongkind both considered as protoimpressionist artists. In the following year Bazille made 2 canvases which he submitted to the Salon in Paris but only the one with a still-life was accepted.

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