Born in 1796, Corot received a classical education, training successively in the studios of Achille Michallon and Jean-Victor Bertin, who encouraged him to paint from nature and to work in the Fontainebleau forest. Coming from a wealthy family, he traveled through Italy for the first time between 1825 and 1828, later returning in 1834 and 1843. He also developed an interest in French landscapes, exploring regions like Auvergne, Provence, Normandy, Burgundy, and Brittany. Following classical traditions, he focused on landscapes as settings for historical subjects. In 1835, he exhibited Agar in the Desert at the Salon and later presented works with both religious and mythological themes. From the 1850s onward, his renown continued to grow, and his paintings increasingly leaned toward “dreamed” landscapes, transformed by the artist’s emotional expression. In 1846, he was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and he became an officer in 1867.

Celebrated by friends and numerous artists, he has been universally adored by posterity: “he remains the greatest” (Edgar Degas), “there is only one master, Corot” (Claude Monet). Although best known for his landscapes, he was also a talented portraitist, admired by notable artists such as Mary Cassatt, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and even Picasso, who favored his primarily feminine depictions. Corot occupies a unique place in French painting for the lyricism of his landscapes and the poetry they convey, his mastery of light, and his keen sense of observation. As a teacher to many acclaimed 19th-century artists like Eugène Boudin, Antoine Chintreuil, and Berthe Morisot, he left an indelible mark on all artists of succeeding generations. His legacy endures, with his works displayed in major museums such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. At auction, his works continue to sell at high prices, attracting buyers from around the world.

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