id: 146851
accession number: 1972.261
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1972.261
updated: 2024-03-26 01:59:32.038000
The Widower, 1877. James Tissot (French, 1836–1902). Etching and drypoint; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection 1972.261
title: The Widower
title in original language:
series:
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creation date: 1877
creation date earliest: 1877
creation date latest: 1877
current location:
creditline: Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection
copyright:
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culture: France, 19th century
technique: etching and drypoint
department: Prints
collection: PR - Etching
type: Print
find spot:
catalogue raisonne: Wentworth 28
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CREATORS
* James Tissot (French, 1836–1902) - artist
Son of a fabric merchant, Tissot left for Paris in 1856 in order to study at the École des Beaux-Arts under Louis Lamothe (1822-1869) and Hippolyte Flandrin (1809-1864). Just like Alma Tadema (q.v.), Tissot, in his early career, was influenced by Belgian history painter Henry Leys (1815-1869), which resulted in such paintings as those illustrating Goethe's Faust (1808-32). In Paris he became close friends with J. A. M. Whistler (1834-1903), Degas (q.v.), and later Morisot (q.v.) and Manet (q.v.). Tissot made his debut at the Salon of 1859, and in 1864 he showed his first works depicting scenes of modern life. He became quite successful, and by 1865 his financial troubles had disappeared. His fame had already spread to the other side of the Channel, and in 1864 he exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy in London. Intrigued by Japanese art, Tissot amassed a renowned collection and painted some fashionable japonaiseries. In 1870 he fought in the Franco-Prussian War and joined the Paris Commune. He left the war-ravaged city in 1871 for London, where his success continued. Degas asked him to participate in the first impressionist exhibition in 1874, but he declined. Around 1875 he met Kathleen Newton, who became his companion until her death at age twenty-eight. Overcome with grief, he moved back to Paris. There he had a large solo exhibition in 1883 at the Palais de l'Industrie, showing paintings, works on paper, and enamels. Two years later he exhibited Quinze tableaux sur la femme à Paris, depicting the life of the modern urban woman. From that point on, Tissot became deeply involved with spiritualism and religion. He departed completely from secular subjects and began illustrating the life of Christ.
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
title: Year in Review: 1972
opening date: 1973-02-27T05:00:00
Year in Review: 1972. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 27-March 18, 1973).
title: Leona E. Prasse, Connoisseur and Curator
opening date: 1985-05-28T04:00:00
Leona E. Prasse, Connoisseur and Curator. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 28-August 25, 1985).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
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PROVENANCE
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1972.261/1972.261_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1972.261/1972.261_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1972.261/1972.261_full.tif