Édouard Manet was a 19th-century artist who was both destined and determined to find a home in the art community. He was born in 1832 to an affluent and upscale family, living in a glorious mansion with his mother, Eugénie-Desirée Fournier, who was the daughter of a diplomat and related to Swedish Royalty, and his stern but gentle father, Auguste Manet, who was a judge. It was, naturally, the expectation of his father that he would take up the legal profession and carry on the Manet legacy, but Édouard had different plans. A trip to the Louvre with his uncle was all it took to pique his interest in art. While he continued his education, he took up special drawing classes on the side, inspired and encouraged by his uncle and other soon-to-be renowned members of the art community.
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
When he was 16, he gave in to his father's wishes and sailed to Rio De Janeiro on a training vessel. After two failed attempts to join the Navy, his father finally agreed to let him pursue his passion and at age 18, he began learning from Thomas Couture, an academic painter. For 6 years, Manet learned under his tutelage and also practiced recreating the works of the brilliant artists in the Louvre, before opening his own studio in 1856, when he was 24 years old.
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons (left); Wikimedia Commons (right)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
From here onwards, Manet’s lifelong career had begun. Though his early works adopted the then-popular realist techniques, he was among the first artists to bring forth impressionist and modernist art, depicting scenes from the most contemporary perspective at the time. Though this led to much of his work being declared controversial, there is no doubt that his paintings left an indelible and inconceivably beautiful mark on the face of modern art.
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Édouard Manet, Wikimedia Commons)
Share this post with someone who enjoys art!
10 Fantastic Claude Monet Paintings to Marvel At!
Claude Monet painted some of the world's greatest Impressionism masterpieces. Here are 10 of his most well-known paintings.
Rembrandt and the Jews: The Surprising Relationship
Why do religious Jews love Rembrandt? Was he Jewish? Answering the questions about the Dutch painter's relation to the Jewish people.
20 Stunning Works of Impressionist Art From Alfred Sisley!
Though Alfred Sisley gained little fame during his life, this 19th century impressionist artist painted landscapes with the most celebrated artists in Paris.
This Late in Life Painter Created Stunning Works of Art!
Henri Rousseau was an artist who created the bulk of his work in his forties, focusing on images of the jungle and day to day life
15 Mesmerizing Paintings by Henry Ossawa Tanner
Henry Ossawa Tanner was the first African-American artist to gain international acclaim. Enjoy 15 of his most remarkable paintings.
The Story of the Woman Behind Vincent van Gogh
Little is said about the woman behind Vincent van Gogh, but he was not always alone...
This Performance Requires Incredible Skill and Strength!
2 Incredible Acrobats put on a phenomenal show!
André Rieu Welcomes Spring With Angelic Music!
A gorgeous musical performance by renowned Dutch musician Andre rieu.
MUSIC BOX: These Johnny Cash Songs are Just Wonderful
Johnny Cash uniquely crossed several important genres of all-American music. His influence is impossible to underestimate. Enjoy this selection of 20 greats!
These Realistic Works of Art are Made with a Ballpoint Pen
Take a look at Andrey Poletaev's stunning ballpoint pen art.
Is This 10-Year-Old Frank Sinatra Re-Incarnate?
This boy was born blind, but sings like a certain famous singer.
Andre Rieu Sings a Wonderful Song For a Beloved Singer
Andre Rieu and Orchestra Playing Heal The World By Michael Jackson
Take it Away, Tiny Dancer!
Amanda Ocampo has captured our hearts and enslaved our eyes with what seems to us as quite simply one of the best child dancers we've ever seen, and she's only 7 years old!
The Most Emotional Performance of 'A Thousand Years'
Watch the Piano Guys completely stun the audience with their rendition of the timeless classic, 'A Thousand Years.'
14 Outstanding Animal Sculptures from Around the World
we have collected for you 14 special, familiar, surprising and sometimes charming animal sculptures, and the story behind them...
20 Hilarious Recreations of Famous Paintings
The Getty Museum challenge contiures - 20 more submissions of people recreating their favourite masterpieces at home with hilarious results.
The Bold and Powerful Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe
Georgia O’Keeffe was a talented American painter well-remembered for her bold and vivid works of flowers and desert landscapes.
These Videos Reveal What Cities Looked Like 100 Years Ago!
Watching old movies is like time travel. A selection of these 15 films will let you travel to several cities of the past, such as New York and Paris.
Hark Back to Old Paris WIth These Beautiful Paintings
The Paris of yesteryear was an incredibly beautiful place. It still is today, but times were different back then. Take a look at these beautiful old paintings.
Is This Pavarotti's Most Iconic Performance?
What an amazing voice Pavarotti had! I will never tire of listening to him.
This Artist's Paintings Are So Realistic You'll Be Fooled
Take a look at the incredibly realistic paintings of Patrick Kramer. He creates his art from photos and paints whatever captures his interest, be it from still lives, portraits, city scenes or landscapes.
This Performance Took Me Back to a Joyous Time in My Life
Have a listen to this beautiful song...
This Artwork is Strangely Hypnotizing to Look At
Check out the incredible detail in this hypnotizing work of art.
This Live Soprano Aria Performance Will Blow Your Mind!
Take a look at this beautiful and magnificent soprano aria of the famous 'Song of Olympia'.
This Acrobatic Display Will Leave You In Total Disbelief
Whatever the Chinese set their minds to, they seem to be able to achieve better than anyone else. Take a look at this truly stunning acrobatic display.
When a Voice and Song Are Perfect, it Sounds Like This
Martin Hurkens' emotional rendition of this very beautiful song will definitely make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!
These Stunning Pictures, Believe It Or Not, Are Hand Drawn
These pictures, despite looking like they have been captured with a camera, are actually all drawn by hand. Totally amazing.
Never Judge a Book By Its Cover!
Opera meets pop when 17-year-old Jonathan and 16-year-old Charlotte sing together. But can the duo convince Britain's Got Talent Judges they are true talent?
Looking Into the Road Not Taken, By Robert Frost
Delving deeper into the celebrated poem the road not taken by robert frost.
The Art of Stone Carving Has Been Brought Back to Life!
This amazing artist makes creating sculptures look almost easy, but watch the video to know the real heart and work that goes into it.
Collection: The Most Remarkable Cakes in the World
12 posts filled with gorgeous photos of the most remarkable cakes.
INTERACTIVE: 12 of the Most Beautiful Classical Pieces...
By exploring this interactive image you can experience stunning interpretations of timeless melodies, both classic and contemporary. Just click on these keys and watch the magic unfold!
This Extraordinary Girl Sings Her Audience to Sweet Tears
By singing this Broadway class 'Defying Gravity' so amazingly, 12-year-old Beau Dermott defies her age. She could be the next singing sensation.
This Magician's Illusions Will Leave You Stumped
In this video, Ivan Netcheporenko entertains his audience with some brilliant illusions.
This Pianist’s Rendition of Beethoven Should Not Be Missed
Watch as one of today's most talented concert pianists performs Beethoven's beloved concerto no. 1.
Classical Music: Enjoy 50 of the Greatest Masterpieces!
This video collected together 50 of the most famous and beautiful classical music pieces in the world.
These Paintings and Sculptures Have Something to Hide...
Did you know that these famous paintings and sculptures had all of these hidden things incorporated into them? Find out all about them here.
INTERACTIVE: 12 Greatest Hits by Ray Charles
In this interactive post, we celebrate the musical legend Ray Charles with a carefully curated selection of his 12 greatest hits.
I Bet That You've Never Seen Cars Quite Like These...
Each year thousands of people gather at the Burning Man festival to gasp at some of the craziest-looking cars. Take a look.
The Magic Begins When These Wooden Sculptures Start Moving
Kinetic sculptures are moving art pieces that marry physics and art into a mind-boggling combination no one should miss out!
Reviving Classic Legends: Howard Pyle's Timeless Paintings
Let's explore the masterful paintings of Howard Pyle, a celebrated artist and illustrator from the 1800s.
This Violinist Has an Incredible Duet With Her Shadow
What happens when your shadow becomes your duet partner?
The Most Beautiful Stained-Glass Pieces You Will Ever See
Synonymous with luxury and fame, his works are scattered everywhere in the U.S.: from the White House to, quite possibly, your nightstand.
WATCH: A Superb Xylophone Performance by Christoph Sietzen
This beautiful xylophone performance, which is an interpretation of Emmanuel Séjourné's Attraction, will have you utterly spellbound.
This Adorable 5 Year Old Plays the Piano Like a Virtuoso
This 5 year old plays piano so well, she's a real master of the craft.
Ever Thought Music and Humor Don't Mix? Think Again!
This performance is a stunning mixture of beauty and humor. Definitely worth a watch!
Ever Wondered What a REAL Tango Looks Like? So Beautiful!
The dance of Tango is one full of beauty and passion.