_Charles François Daubigny_ (French: 1817-1878).
Daubigny was the youngest member of the "Barbizon" group;
and, though he has artistic affinity with them, and regarded
Corot as his master, he painted not in their chosen district,
but on the banks of the Oise. His landscapes have not the
poetry of Corot's, nor the force of Rousseau's; but they
are more comfortable, as it were, and human. Corot's world
might be inhabited by dryads; in Rousseau's landscapes man
is subordinate or overpowered; Daubigny paints nature as the
pleasant abode of human beings fond of the country--commons
not too remote from a garden wall, the banks of pleasant
streams where men may boat or fish. The country with him is
full of fresh air. "There is a story told of a poor young
man, afflicted with consumption, who coming suddenly before a
work of Daubigny, exclaimed, 'Ah, I can breathe better now'"
(Thomson's _Barbizon School_, p. 283).
Daubigny's life is in accord with what have been suggested
above as characteristic notes of his art. He had no privations,
storms, or struggles. He was born at Paris, in an artistic
family; and as a youth assisted his father in painting boxes,
clock-cases and the like. He was a delicate child, and had
lived much with his nurse Bazot at Valmondois on the Oise,
where too he afterwards spent many holidays and where in later
years he made his home. At the age of 18 he went to Italy,
where the pictures of Claude especially attracted him. On his
return he was engaged for a time as a picture-restorer. He
studied with Paul Delaroche, but struck out a line for himself
in landscape pictures and etchings, and his works gradually
found favour. He had a boat made for voyaging on the Oise and
Seine, and this served as a floating studio. He built himself a
house at Auvers on the Oise, which was decorated with paintings
by Corot and other artist-friends. In 1866 he was invited by
Leighton and others to visit England, and he exhibited at the
Academy. In 1859 he had been made a Chevalier of the Legion of
Honour, and in 1874 he was promoted to the grade of Officer.
On his death-bed he said to those about him "Adieu; I am going
to see above if friend Corot has found me any _motifs_ for
landscapes."
Sunset effect on a lake; with brilliant colours piercing through the
trees to the water. Signed, and dated 1874.