French, 1814–1875
Jean François Millet was a French painter and one of the founders of the Barbizon school of painting. He is best known for his depictions of peasant life and rural labor, which reflect a deep empathy for the working class. Millet was born on October 4, 1814, in Gruchy, a small village in Normandy, France. He began his artistic training in Cherbourg and later moved to Paris, where he studied under the painter Paul Delaroche. Millet's early works were influenced by Romanticism, but he gradually developed a style that emphasized realism and the dignity of labor. His major works include 'The Gleaners' (1857), 'The Angelus' (1859), and 'The Sower' (1850). Millet's significance lies in his ability to elevate the everyday lives of peasants to the level of fine art, paving the way for future movements that focused on social realism. He died on January 20, 1875, in Barbizon, France.
2 artworks
