Cost of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's Paintings During His Lifetime
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796 – 1875) was a French painter during the Realism and Romanticism periods. He is globally renowned for his landscape paintings and specializes in the genre. However, he completed many other artworks depicting the human body and Mythological and religious iconography.
Baptiste is important in transitioning from Neoclassical traditions to more modern Impressionist ideals. Yet, like a true modern artist, Baptiste loved painting outdoors in favor of in a studio, and this deep love of nature shines through in his beautiful landscape paintings.
Compared to other famous artists throughout history, Jean-Baptiste enjoyed a relative degree of success during his lifetime. Many of his paintings sold for an adequate price and are now worth millions of dollars in today's market. The following is a look into this pivotal artist and the artwork that made him successful.
Le Petit Berger (The Little Shepherd)
Famous Jean Baptiste painter career took off when the French Government purchased one of his paintings. This high-status buyer quickly became Baptiste's stamp of approval in mainstream eyes as an upcoming artist to watch out for in the future.
Bought for only a couple of hundred dollars by today's standards, the painting depicts a lone shepherd relaxing against a tree while playing a musical instrument. It is the first of what's known as Baptiste's lyrical paintings and would be reworked into a series of prints several years later.
Although Le Petit Berger wasn't the first painting Corot ever sold, it was by far his most publicized at the time. This event increased his value and reputation, allowing him to charge professional-level prices for his paintings going forward.
Landscape by the Sea
By this point in his career, Jean Baptiste was becoming quite a famous painter in the art circles of France and regularly charged between 1,500 – 2,000 Francs for his paintings, which is a relatively modest fee compared to modern standards.
Nevertheless, it was enough for Corot to live on and continue his passion for painting. It also allowed him to expand as an artist as he was accepted into the Salon Jury. The Salon Jury was an exclusive club for the best artists in France to exhibit their artwork.
Corot soon became a prominent member of the Salon and, before long, could charge triple the price of what he could before. For example, landscape by the Sea was sold for a few thousand Francs during Corot's lifetime; however, in 2016, it would go on to be sold for over $120,000. Quite a dramatic increase indeed.
A Girl Reading - Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
The Last Baptism of Christ
The Last Baptism of Christ is one of the only commissions Baptiste undertook during his illustrious career. He was commissioned to paint a mural at the Church of Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet, in Paris, France, in the same fashion as the Sistine chapel and other Renaissance masterpieces.
Hired for a standard fee as he was still a relatively unknown painter at the time, Baptiste was nonetheless excited to take on the challenge. Unfortunately, the project was wracked by multiple aggravations, leading to Corot never doing commission work again.
In the end, the mural turned out well, and it is one of Baptiste's best works that isn't a landscape painting. The increase in Corot's reputation and bank balance was also a boost. He invested the money wisely, not only in himself but also in the young artists around him who were beginning to follow his methods.
A Gust of Wind
As the years went by, the beauty of John Baptiste's art and the reputation and story surrounding the artist's work continued to grow. He had attained quite the following in France and began to devote much of his attention to teaching the younger painters.
By the 1860s, his Paris studio was packed with students, and Corot was more than happy to guide them as best he could. He was financially successful by this point and often paid his students for commissions in favor of himself.
His artwork regularly sold for several thousand Francs, making him one of France's premier artists. Despite this success, Corot remained humble and was well-known for giving away large portions of money. Yet, by all accounts, he was an honorable person and worthy of his fame and reputation.
An Orchard at Harvest Time - Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
Vue Du Quei Des Esclavons
Speaking of reputation, like many artists, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's paintings only really achieved massive wealth long after his death. Whereas his paintings would sell for a substantial price in his lifetime, it is only in today's capitalist world that they are worth millions of dollars and are highly sought-after pieces for prospective buyers.
Over the years, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's painting style would continue to evolve and change before eventually becoming the foundation for the Impressionist movement. The painting of the Vue du Quai des Esclavons can be seen as the symbol of Baptiste's turning point from classical to modern art.
In 2018, the painting sold for over $9,000,000, making it Corot's most valuable painting. Several of his masterpieces have been sold for millions of dollars in either auction or on the public market. Many of his other artworks sit in the Louvre museum in France or in other museums scattered around the world and are considered priceless in many people's eyes.
Conclusion
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's paintings are considered some of the best landscape paintings ever created. The artist and his paintings tell a vivid story with their careful brushstrokes. Their beauty contributed to many artists who followed and held a valuable place in the records of art history.
