3. James Tissot was born in Nantes, France. He studied art at Beaux-Arts in Paris
and following the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, Tissot decided to
move to London. This move must have caused problems in his life, and the
painter needed to earn some money quickly. Tissot started to paint
accomplished highly finished paintings of London society and social events.
These paintings were an instant success with the art viewing and buying public,
but not with the critics. His main criticisms of the time were that the paintings
were really only painted photographs. There is some truth in this, though the
paintings show dazzling technique, and a dash of Gallic wit and sophistication,
the home grown English artists were quite unable to match. An attraction for
Tissot was also the Port of London, and the river Thames. His paintings with the
river as the background have an evocative atmosphere. One can almost smell
the smoke, and hear the shouts of the dockers and watermen. In 1882 Tissot
moved back to Paris. Initially Tissot carried on painting society and genre
pictures in Paris, but soon gave this up, devoting the rest of his life to painting
religious scenes. He visited the Middle- East twice to find genuine backgrounds
for his religious paintings.
James Tissot Paintings
1836 to 1902
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