Corot Experts
A founding father of French plein air painting, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a defining figure of 19th century painting. Corot'sstriking, pastoral views have captivated generations of fans of the French landscape, making the collection of Corot works a worthy endeavor.
Born in Paris in 1796, Corot found little interest in art as a young man. It was not, in fact, until the second decade of the 19th century that Corot first attempted painting, but once he found his skill he was determined to make it his career. He conjuredhis first studio from the dormered attic chamber of his parents' home in 1817 and worked tirelessly for several years following to convince his father that his choice of artist as his profession was a viable one. Asone of the most quoted quips from the artist: "I told my father that business and I were simply incompatible, and that I was getting a divorce" (as quoted in Vincent Pomarède & Gérard de Wallens, Corot: ExtraordinaryLandscapes, 1996).
Corot found a burgeoning fascination with the landscape while studying in Italy from 1825 and 1828, but it was his return to France, and his visit to the tiny hamlet of Barbizon in 1829, that proved most formative to his career. Located on the peripheryof the Forest of Fontainebleau to the south of Paris, Barbizon would grow in the subsequent years into one of the vibrant artistic communities in all of France. It became a popular outpost for pioneering painters thatwanted to celebrate the beauty of nature in their works. Corot thrived in such a setting, and it is perhaps Corot's various views of Barbizon and its surroundings that make up the most passionate portion of Corot'sbody of work.
Corot toyed with critical acclaim throughout his career, hoping for Salon success at various junctures of his career, yet he found his greatest success far from its revered galleries. Rather, Corot dedicated himself to his love of the landscape and, indoing so, encouraged an entire generation of painters. His dewy landscapes, accented with subtle dabs of white paint and often dotted with classical nymphs or goddesses, defined a new love for landscape painting thatresonated throughout the remainder of the century. From colleagues Eugène Boudin to successors Camille Pissarro and Berthè Morisot, a wide array of artists considered Corot an essential influence.
Corot Experts represents a team of researchers, specialists, and scholars who pride themselves on our shared expertise in the work of Corot. We can evaluate and appraise each work and, if deemed authentic by our standards, we will issue a Certificateof Authenticity (COA) for your records. Our team of specialists can also investigate provenance and assist with scientific testing ranging from carbon dating to x-radiography. Please peruse the Corot Expert site tolearn about the full array of services we offer. You can also complete the form below, and one of our experts will follow up with you personally.