Charles-Émile Jacque (Paris, France, 1813 – 1894, Paris, France). <em>The Old Forest</em>, 1860–1870. Oil on canvas, 32 1/2 x 26 1/4 in. (82.6 x 66.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Mrs. William A. Putnam, 41.778 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.778_SL1.jpg)

Charles-Émile Jacque (Paris, France, 1813 – 1894, Paris, France). The Old Forest, 1860–1870. Oil on canvas, 32 1/2 x 26 1/4 in. (82.6 x 66.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Mrs. William A. Putnam, 41.778 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.778_SL1.jpg)

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The painters of the Barbizon School were really interested in landscape painting; they wanted to depict nature directly, outside of the classical conventions. That's why you'll see so many landscapes in a similar style on that wall.

I do love Fontainebleau.

Many of the Barbizon school painters worked in the Forest of Fontainebleau, just outside of Paris, as nature, rather than urban life, provided inspiration for their works. They got their name from the nearby village of Barbizon.

The Old Forest

Charles-Émile Jacque

European Art

In 1849 Charles-Émile Jacque settled in Barbizon, a village near what had become the center of landscape painting in France: the vast Forest of Fontainebleau. By that year, eight trains a day were traveling direct from Paris to Barbizon, bringing thousands of “nature tourists” from the city.

Here, Jacque portrays a blue-smocked peasant standing near one of Fontainebleau’s famous old trees, an image of labor made to seem gentle and timeless. The forest actually belonged to the French crown, which limited how villagers could use it. Sheep were only permitted to graze at the edge of the forest, for example.

ARTIST Charles-Émile Jacque, Paris, France, 1813 – 1894, Paris, France

MEDIUM Oil on canvas

Place Made: France

DATES 1860–1870

DIMENSIONS 32 1/2 x 26 1/4 in. (82.6 x 66.7 cm) Frame: 43 1/2 x 37 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. (110.5 x 95.3 x 11.4 cm) (show scale)

SIGNATURE Signed lower left: "ch. Jacque."

COLLECTIONS European Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 41.778

CREDIT LINE Bequest of Mrs. William A. Putnam

EXHIBITIONS

Monet to Morisot: The Real and Imagined in European Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Charles-Émile Jacque (Paris, France, 1813 – 1894, Paris, France). The Old Forest, 1860–1870. Oil on canvas, 32 1/2 x 26 1/4 in. (82.6 x 66.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Mrs. William A. Putnam, 41.778 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.778_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 41.778_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

I do love Fontainebleau.