Frédéric Bazille

Frédéric Bazille

Born: 6th December 1841, Montpellier, France Died: 28th November 1870, Beaune-­‐la-­‐Rolande Nationality: France Spouse(s): None Children: None Father: Gaston Bazille Mother: Unknown (to me) Siblings: None

1. Bazille’s father was a wealthy wine grower and had previously managed dairies and orchards.

2. In his youth, Bazille was a keen hunter of ducks.

3. In 1859, Bazille took up studying medicine. He continued his studies for two years whilst also studying painting. He soon realised painting was his passion and pursued it. His father was not too happy.

4. In 1862, Bazille enrolled at Gleyre’s where he met Monet, Renoir and Sisley.

5. In early 1866, Bazille moved into cheaper lodgings.

6. Bazille already knew Manet through his uncle before he met the rest of the future Impressionists in 1866.

7. In 1867, Bazille painted a family portrait.

8. When the Franco-­‐Prussian war began in 1870, Bazille enlisted to fight. He had a very glorious image of himself in battle riding a horse and fighting for his country. After signing up, he went to train in Algeria.

9. In late 1870, Bazille took command of his regiment after his commander died in the Battle of Beaune-­‐la-­‐Rolande. Bazille himself was killed. Renoir said he had died not, ‘romantically, galloping over a Delacroix battlefield’, but rather, ‘stupidly, during the retreat, on a muddy road.’

10. Bazille obviously never had the chance to exhibit in the first Impressionist exhibition of 1974. However, in the second exhibition of 1876, two of his paintings of the 252 canvases on show were included as a memorial.