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| St. Martin Canal, Alfred Sisley, 1870 |
Impressionist landscape artist Alfred Sisley was born in France in 1839 to wealthy British parents. In 1862 he began attending the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he began painting his landscapes “en plein air” (that means “outside” for us heathens), which was something new and somewhat unpopular at the time.
Unlike many artists, he was supported in his art by his father. However, that ended with the Franco-Prussian war, which financially ruined the family. As his art was unpopular during his lifetime, he usually lived in poor circumstances, with only occasional patrons to aleviate his poverty.
As a contemporary of Monet and Renoir, Sisley was overshadowed by their work, and was said by one critic to be generically Impressionist. Sisley remained an Impressionist until his death in 1899, consistently concentrating on painting landscapes.
As so often happens, Sisley’s works began to be recognized after his death and have become quite valuable, enough so that many fake Sisleys are found. Perhaps imitation (of a sort) is the sincerest compliment after all.
Note: Fine Art Tuesday was started by Eaton Rapids Joe in memory of Ol’ Remus, late proprietor of the Woodpile Report. If you’re a blogger and are so moved, please feel free to join us with your own Fine Art Tuesday post.
