Eugène Boudin, painter of the sky

Admired by Monet for his ability at capturing the moment and the light of the day, Eugène Boudin’s paintings have not being shown in a large scale exhibition since 1899! Camille Corot used to call him the king of the skies, Monet considered him as his master and one of the painters that opened the way to Impressonism, it was about time to pay a tribute to this brillant painter. 60 paintings, drawings and watercolors displayed in the beautifull Jacquemart-André museum, an extravagant mansion built in 1875 by a couple of fine art collectors, Nelie Jacquemart and Edouard André, a wealthy protestant banker, whose collections and private appartments can be also visited.
From room to room, Boudin takes us for a trip along the coasts of Normandy, Honfleur, Deauville, Trouville, fashionable destinations by the shores where the good society would enjoy fresh air under ombrellas and socialize. Later, always looking for new motives, he will take his palette from Belgium to the Netherlands, Brittany to Bordeaux and finally Venice on the track of Canaletto and Guardi.
Very successful as he was alive, Paul Durand Ruel, famous art dealer will make him famous all over the world and specially in America with a first exhibit in the 1880s. American museums own some of the masterpieces gathered from the most important collections throughout the world for this long awaited retrospective not to be missed!
Museum Jacquemart-André has a café tea room opened every day included on the week end where you can enjoy snacks and brunch under a fresco by Tiepolo, but hush-hush!

Eugène Boudin
Musée Jacquemart-André
March 22nd – July 22nd 2013
158 boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris

Crédit photo: Musée Jacquemart-André