These he saw with a discerning eye andportrayed
with a masterful brush.
The aim of these modern men is chiefly to gain
theeffect of light and air. His chief work isto be seen in the Opera at Paris. His
subjects, instead of being heroic, inclined to themythological and the allegorical.
Hence the use of light shadows andbright colors.
He draws well, sometimes uses color well, andis an
excellent painter of textures. It met with instant opposition from the old men and
applausefrom the young men. His art,however, was the beginning of
romanticism.
As a great artist his rank is still open to
question.
Thehigher imaginative qualities of art Manet made
no great effort atattaining. He hashad great success as a teacher, and is, all told,
a painter of highrank. He has never had a superior in producingthe permeating light
of morning and evening.
It had never been a school in the sense of
havingrules and laws of art. It had no seriousness or dignity aboutit.
Besnard is oneof the best of the present
men.
Like Troyon he knows his subject well, and can show
thenature of sheep with true feeling.
It met with instant opposition from the old men and
applausefrom the young men.
He was an exceptional man, perhaps, inhis use of
mythological themes and nude figures.
The followers ofthe Millet-Breton tradition are
many. When romanticism came in this was changed, but naturefalsified in another
direction.
His anatomical Christ on the Cross and
muralpaintings in the Pantheon are examples. He was a fine draughtsman, and, what
ismore remarkable in conjunction therewith, a fine colorist.
All these qualitiesmade him a popular painter, but
not an original or powerful one.
His art,however, was the beginning of romanticism.
Hissuccess lay in exact technical accomplishment.
His late work is inferior in sentiment andlabored
in handling.
It met with instant opposition from the old men and
applausefrom the young men. In France Sisley with Monet are the two
importantlandscapists.
These he painted with great singleness of aim and
greatpoetic charm.
Trees and hills andrivers became supernaturally
grand and impressive.
Fifteen years after the starting of romanticism the
movement hadmaterially subsided.