id:			92951
accession number:	2022.140
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2022.140
updated:		2024-03-26 01:56:04.201000

Two Figures at a Door (The Proposal?), 1872. James Tissot (French, 1836–1902). Oil on canvas; unframed: 101 x 61.5 cm (39 3/4 x 24 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Partial gift from Ralph and Terry Kovel and Family, and partial purchase from the John L. Severance Fund 2022.140

title:				Two Figures at a Door (The Proposal?)
title in original language:	
series:				
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creation date:			1872
creation date earliest:		1872
creation date latest:		1872
current location:		220 19th Century European
creditline:			Partial gift from Ralph and Terry Kovel and Family, and partial purchase from the John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	France, 19th century
technique:	oil on canvas
department:	Modern European Painting and Sculpture
collection:	Mod Euro - Painting 1800-1960
type:		Painting
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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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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measurements: Unframed: 101 x 61.5 cm (39 3/4 x 24 3/16 in.)
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	[Brodney Gallery, Boston, early 1950s]
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	Ralph and Terry Kovel, Cleveland, OH
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	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, acquired 2022
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	Sotheby’s New York, “James Tissot: The Proposal,” The European Art Sale, May 20, 2021, lot 219
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	Melissa E. Buron, Krystyna Matyjaszkiewicz, et. al. <em>James Tissot</em>, exh. cat. (San Francisco, CA : de Young, Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Munich; New York: DelMonico Books·Prestel, 2019), fig 23, p. 19.
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	Robinson, William H. "Two Figures at a Door (The Proposal?): A James Tissot painting joins the collection.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>vol. 63, no. 1 (2023): 34-35.
	page number: 	Reproduced: P. 35; Mentioned: P. 34.
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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2022.140/2022.140_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2022.140/2022.140_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2022.140/2022.140_full.tif