Antoine Guillemetartist • painterChantilly (Frankrijk) 1841-Dordogne (dept. in Frankrijk) 1918

The plein-air painter Antoine Guillemet was the son of a wealthy shipbuilder from Rouen. In Paris, where he lived and worked all his life, he played a central role in artistic life. He supported several contemporaries, including his friend Manet who depicted him in 1869 in his famous painting 'Le Balcon' (Musée d'Orsay). He was also friends with the Barbizon painter Corot and regularly went out with Daubigny. In 1881 Guillemet rediscovered the beauty of Normandy. This inspired him to landscapes and beach views that he exhibited at the Salon between 1881 and 1900. He was also very successful with his Parisian cityscapes.