Antoine Chintreuil

b. 1814 — d. 1873

Antoine Chintreuil arrived in Paris in 1838 and entered the atelier of history painter Delaroche (q.v.) in 1842. Around the following year, Chintreuil met Corot (q.v.) who became his true teacher and advised him to paint landscapes in the open air. Chintreuil's submissions to the Salon were repeatedly rejected until one of his many views of the surroundings of Paris was accepted at the Salon of 1847. In 1850, Chintreuil moved to Igny, southeast of the capital, where he met Daubigny (q.v.) and for the next seven years painted the woods and forests around the valley of the river Bièvre. He then moved to La Tournelle-Septeuil in the Seine valley, where he would remain until his death. An article by Frédéric Henriet in l'Artiste of 1858 marked the beginning of his critical recognition. Chintreuil had exhibited regularly at the Salon, although in 1863 he was one of the many artists who had to participate in the Salon des Refusés. Later on though, the State purchased several of his works and in 1870 he received the Legion of Honor. Toward the end of his career the artist also painted several coastal scenes. Because of his relentless studying of various light and weather conditions, Chintreuil is one of the artists who, together with others such as Boudin (q.v.) and Jongkind (q.v.), are now seen as the precursors of the impressionists.