Born Gustave Courbet (10 June 1819)

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Today was born one of the best French artists Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet .......
Not just that it was life .. That is what I wrote to Dumas:
"From what the monster could happen ... this bastard by the name of Gustave Courbet? Under any cap on a manure pile, poured with a mixture of wine, beer, poisonous saliva and stinking phlegm, sprang this blower and hairy gourd, the belly, pretending to be a man and artist, is the embodiment of idiotic and impotent "I"? "-
(Alexander Dumas)
How things changed ...
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Courbet his life fighting. And not only for the new language in art, but also against the injustice that prevails in the world, against the bourgeois prosperity, who was considered the ideal in contemporary France. Revolutionary by nature, he experienced the bitterest disappointment and ended his life in exile.
Jean Desiré Gustave Courbet was born June 10, 1819 in the small town of Ornans, near the Swiss border. His ancestors from his father, the owner of the farm and vineyard for several generations lived in eastern France, his mother, too, was a native of these places. Since childhood, the future artist was in love with his little home, and this love has left a noticeable trace in his work.

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In 1831, Gustav entered the local school, where he quickly gained a reputation as noisy and mischievous pupil. Interested in drawing woke him "daddy" Bode, one of his teachers. Once Bode was an apprentice at Antoine Jean Gros (1771 - 1835), one of the leading artists of the neo-, and now he urged his students as much as possible to draw from nature. Later Courbet said that it was thanks to Bod, he became an artist.

In 1837, Gustav entered the Royal College of Beza Son. Heeding the advice of relatives, he studied law, but at the same time (already on their own) and took classes at a local Academy. Obviously, it played a role in the fact that in 1839 a young man went to Paris. There, he was the first time mastering the basics of artistic craftsmanship from a certain artist Hundred-Ben. Student Studi Gustave supplement visits to museums, where the carefully copied the exhibited works of painters - from the old Spanish and Dutch masters to Theodore Gericault and Eugene Delacroix. Later, the artist declared himself an autodidact, but that little cunning, because of primary art education, he nevertheless received.
Like most young ambitious people from painting, Courbet had hoped to achieve recognition, exhibited at the Salon. He is intensely searching for a winning theme for the exhibition of work and experimenting with different styles. Between 1841 and 1847 years, he tested himself in the portrait, landscape, genre scenes, and even in religious painting. The result came out pretty disappointing. Most of the proposed works Courbet Salon jury rejected. From fallen into the same salon three paintings only one ("Self-Portrait with Black Dog") with great restraint noticed criticism.
Thus, the position Courbet eve of the French Revolution of 1848 was not too safe. There is still more complicated in 1847, when Courbet was married to Virginia Binet, a few years before his former mistress (this year she gave birth to his son). About Virginia is known only that she was eleven years older than Gustave and are believed to have posed for his painting "Lovers in nature." This alliance collapsed in 1855. Son of Courbet died very young, in 1872.
However, in 1846, the artist as if fate smiled. One Dutch art dealer bought two of his works, and promised new jobs, if he comes to Holland. Courbet support and his new friends, all entirely young writers and artists. Among them were figures that do not require special presentation - such as Charles Baudelaire and Pierre Joseph Proudhon. The company usually met in the pub, is two steps away from the studio of the artist and friends nicknamed "Temple of realism." It is here were first talking about the base of the "new school" in art, which was thought realistic in spirit.

Letters of Courbet that time quite vain, in fact, about any loud glory say no. But help came the revolution. In February 1848 the French king Louis-Philippe abdicated, and power passed into the hands of republican government. Salon survived, but his selection committee eliminated. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Courbet exhibited at the Salon just ten of his paintings. About the artist talking. The following year his painting "The siesta in Or-inflicted" received a gold medal and was purchased by the Government for the museum in the city of Lille.

But life Courbet this does not become easier. It was at this time the artist has developed her realistic style. For many it provoked fury. Thus, a masterpiece of Courbet's Funeral at Ornans in Salon 1850-51 year was subjected to this harassment. Critics venomously spit, cartoonists endlessly parodied painting, and authorities suspect in her cryptic message subversive.

Realism caused rejection for two reasons. First, its very irritating aesthetics, opposing accepted at the Salon academicism. Secondly, he seemed dangerous, because it actively supported the Socialists. Courbet also its opposition to the existing order of things overemphasized. In an interview in 1851 he directly stated: "I'm not just a socialist, but also a Democrat and a Republican. In other words, I am a revolutionary to the bone. Second Empire, established a year later, these words do not forgive.

In 1855 his paintings were not taken at the World's Fair. In reply to an artist close to the official French Pavilion of Fine Arts has organized a private exhibition of his works in the pavilion, called the "Pavilion of Realism". To the chagrin of Courbet, this move did not support the public, and he barely paid for the costs of building facilities. In 1857 the rules were changed taking pictures in the Salon, and the first violin in the selection of the work again began to play the selection committee. Then the artist drew their attention to neighboring countries. In 1856 he visited Belgium, where, in his own words, "lived like a prince." Two years later, he stopped for a long time in Germany, where he was well received. Furthermore, Courbet has successfully exhibited in London, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Brussels and The Hague. Most turned out to be a triumph for him in 1869, when the Belgian king Leopold II awarded him a gold medal, and the Bavarian King Ludwig II - Order of St. Michael.

In Paris, meanwhile, continued squabbling with the salon and the authorities. Double paintings are well accepted in the Salon, but the government refused to buy them. In the end Courbet went to an open confrontation. He presented a picture of the admission committee, which could not cause a scandal. It was "The Return of the Cure with the conference" - a group portrait of very drunken priests. In those days the artist wrote to one of his friends: "If this painting caused such dissatisfaction, I can assume that he has reached his goal ... Yes come true revolution."

Thus, the events culminating in the expulsion of Courbet the country, were natural. In 1870, France entered the war with Prussia, to end in disaster. Authorities in Paris briefly passed into the hands of republican government. Courbet took an active part in the Paris Commune. In May 1871, the Commune was drowned in blood. Courbet was arrested, in particular, and for the fact that he put his hand to the destruction of the Vendome column. The artist was sentenced to a fine of 500 francs and six months in jail.

After his release, Courbet again took up his brush. But in 1873, came to power Marshal MacMahon, and his decree was renewed investigation into the destruction of the Vendome column. Fearful of being arrested, the artist fled France. He settled in the Swiss town of Tour-de-Pelz, near the border.

The trial dragged on until 1877. The artist presented a fine of 323,000 francs, all his paintings were confiscated and were sold under the hammer. After this health Courbet was rapidly deteriorating. December 31, 1877 he died. Later, in 1919 (on the centenary of the artist), Courbet remains were transported to his home in Ornan.