Male Nude by Jean Frédéric Bazille

The French painter Jean Frédéric Bazille (1841-1870), started studying medicine in 1859. When he moved to Paris in 1862 he met Renoir and was drawn to Impressionism. He then took classes at Gleyre’s studio, fond of academism who declared: « when you paint after a model, always think of the antique ». Jean Frédéric Bazille failed his medicine exam and then began painting on a full-time basis. He became a friend of Monet, Sisley, Manet, Cézanne, Pissaro, Zola and Verlaine.

Originating from Montpellier in the South of France, he painted his region: “ Porte de la Reine à Aigues-Mortes”(1867), “Les Remparts d’Aigues-Mortes “ (1867). He owes his artistic vocation to a friend of the family, the patron Alfred Bruyas who influenced Courbet and the Impressionists. He mainly painted figures in the open air, intensely concentrating on natural light. He rejected academism and was a precursor of Impressionism.

“He was one one the most gifted among us” Camille Pissaro said. It is certain that he devoted great care to realism.

He joined a regiment of Zouaves during the war in 1870 declaring: “For me, I am sure I will not be killed, I have so many things to do in life”. Death took him in combat at the age of 29 in Beaune-la Rolande, near Orléans, France. His father offered the church of this little town one of his works: “Le Mariage Mystique de Sainte-Catherine” after Veronese. A monument in his honour can also be seen there.

He was famed to be quite generous, sharing his wealth, space and materials with his less fortunate fellows. He painted nude male beauty in: “Le pêcheur d’éperviers” (1868), “Scène d’été” (1839) and also made drawings such as “A Study of Male Nude”.

Le Pêcheur d’Eperviers

Scène d’Ete