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Lot Essay
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Rolande Miquel and is included in the catalogue raisonné published in September 2004, under no. 2962.
Narcisse was made an orphan from a very young age and lost a leg following an accident at the age of 10. Even from such a traumatic start in life he debuted at the Salon in 1831, painting spiritual and atmospheric romantic themes. Beginning with allegorical themes more associated with 18th Century painting he later painted Orientalist pictures. His meeting with Theodore Rousseau encouraged him to pursue landscape, which he thrived at, becoming one of the leading lights of the Barbizon movement. He was a strong influence on the young painters Renoir, Monet and Bazille. Unlucky as he had been as an infant, he died as a result of a snake bite at Menton. An important collection of his works are in the Musée d'Orsay and there are many others exhibited in the National Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the Institute of Art in Chicago.
Narcisse was made an orphan from a very young age and lost a leg following an accident at the age of 10. Even from such a traumatic start in life he debuted at the Salon in 1831, painting spiritual and atmospheric romantic themes. Beginning with allegorical themes more associated with 18th Century painting he later painted Orientalist pictures. His meeting with Theodore Rousseau encouraged him to pursue landscape, which he thrived at, becoming one of the leading lights of the Barbizon movement. He was a strong influence on the young painters Renoir, Monet and Bazille. Unlucky as he had been as an infant, he died as a result of a snake bite at Menton. An important collection of his works are in the Musée d'Orsay and there are many others exhibited in the National Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the Institute of Art in Chicago.