Jean-Francois
Millet Biography

Jean François Millet is known for developing a painting style that depicted the social conditions of the time. He was both widely acclaimed and despised for his political beliefs. Millet was, himself, born into poverty in 1814 in the town of Gruchy, Greville-Hague (Normandy). Two of the village priests taught Millet the importance of modern literature and with them, Millet studied Latin. In 1833, Millet was sent to Cherbourg to study with portrait painter Paul Dumouchel. Shortly thereafter, in 1835, Millet began studying full-time with Lucien-Theophile Langlois, a pupil of Baron Gros.

In 1837, Millet was awarded a scholarship to continue his studies in Paris at the École des Beaux Arts with Paul Delaroche. In 1839, his scholarship ended and his paintings were rejected from the Salon, forcing Millet to return to Cherbourg and pursue portrait painting. In 1840, however, one of Millet’s paintings was accepted and after marrying Pauline-Virigine Ono, he returned to Paris. Tragedy struck, however, and Pauline-Virgine Ono died of consumption. Millet returned once again to Cherbourg.

In 1845, Millet moved to La Havre with Catherine Lemaire. They would marry in a civil ceremony in 1853 and a religious ceremony in 1875. While in La Havre, Millet painted portraits and genre pieces before moving back to Paris. He befriended Narcisse Diaz, Charles Jacque and Theodore Rousseau, all of whom were associated with the Barbizon School. By 1847, Millet was beginning to receive recognition with the selection of his painting, Oepidus Taken down from the Tree, for the Salon.

The French government purchased Winnower in 1848 and commissioned Millet to produce Harvesters in the following year. He also exhibited Shepherdess Sitting at the Edge of the Forest in the Salon. This painting marked Millet’s first turn into a more realistic and personal approach to country life. Millet relocated his family to Barbizon in the summer of 1849.

In 1850, Millet developed an arrangement with Sensier wherein Millet would provide paintings and drawings in exchange for supplies and money. In this arrangement, however, Millet could still sell his works to others.
Between 1850 and 1853, Millet developed Harvesters Resting (Ruth and Boaz). Millet considered this to be his most important painting. For it, he won the 2nd Class Medal at the 1853 Salon.

In 1857, Millet completed The Gleaners, a painting that was preceded by an earlier version in 1854 and an etching in 1855-56. Thomas G. Appleton commissioned Millet to paint Prayer for the Potato Crop in the summer of 1857. As the painting was not claimed by 1859, Millet renamed the painting The Angelus and it was shown in 1865.

In 1867, Exposition Universelle hosted a major exhibition of Millet’s works, including nine paintings. In 1868 Frederic Hartmann commissioned Millet to produce the Four Seasons for 25,000 francs. Later in the same year, Millet was named Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur.

Millet was elected to the 1870 Salon jury before fleeing to Cherbourg as a result of the Franco-Prussian War. Millet and his family would not return to Barbizon until late 1871. Millet died on January 20, 1875.

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Trussing Hay, 1850

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The Winnower, 1848

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Angelus, 1859