The Mother and Sister of the Artist by Berthe Morisot

Image of oil painting being described
Morisot, Berthe (French, 1841 – 1895), The Mother and Sister of the Artist, 1869/1870, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection 1963.10.186

When Berthe Morisot and her sister Edma wanted to learn how to paint, their parents willingly obliged. After all, that was part of an upper-class young woman’s education. But when their teacher saw their incredible talent, he warned their mother, “…they will become painters. Are you fully aware of what that means? It will be revolutionary…” And he was right! For a woman to become a professional painter was almost unheard of in 1850s Paris.

But Berthe did it, even after her well-meaning mentor Édouard Manet made some…uh…improvements to this painting just before the deadline for submission to the all-important Salon. Prepare to cringe!

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Fauré Nocturne no. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36” composed by Gabriel Fauré.
https://musopen.org/music/7909-nocturne-no-4-in-e-flat-major-op-36/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/european-archive/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/gabriel-faure/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46661.html

https://www.artble.com/artists/berthe_morisot/paintings/portrait_of_the_artist’s_mother_and_sister

Morisot information
Stuckey, Charles F., William P. Scott, and Suzanne G. Lindsay. Berthe Morisot, Impressionist  1st ed. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in association with the National Gallery of Art, 1987.

Shennan, Margaret. Berthe Morisot : the First Lady of Impressionism  Phoenix Mill: Sutton, 1996.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-berthe-morisot-brought-radically-feminine-perspective-impressionism

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Autumn – On the Hudson River by Jasper Cropsey

Image of oil painting being described
Cropsey, Japser Francis (American, 1823 – 1900), Autumn – On the Hudson River, 1860, oil on canvas, Gift of the Avalon Foundation, 1963.9.1

When Jasper Cropsey painted Autumn – On the Hudson River, he set out to create a breathtaking vista to promote the idea of American grandeur and vast potential. Like Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer, it was meant to be optimistic and suggest endless possibilities. Ironic, since it was painted one year before the Civil War started.

We’ll find out how Cropsey’s talent took him from a Staten Island farm to meeting royalty at St. James Palace and his connection to an elevated railway in Manhattan.

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Kiss Inflation” by Doctor Turtle.
https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/ 

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46474.html

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century: Part I (PDF)
https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/research/publications/pdfs/american-paintings-19th-century-part-1.pdf

Jasper Cropsey information
http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/JFCropsey.html

Gilbert Elevated Railway information
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/realestate/01scap-001.html

Ever Rest information
http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/EverRest.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com