La Musique aux Tuileries
Artist
Édouard Manet
(1832 - 1883)
Date1862
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions76.2 × 118.1 cm
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineSir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
Object number3260
DescriptionLa Musique aux Tuileries is Manet's first real attempt at capturing contemporary urban life. A crowd of well-to-do Parisian bourgeoisie is gathered in the gardens of the Tuileries Palace to enjoy the twice weekly concert. It was the perfect opportunity for Manet to sketch his literary, artistic and musical friends including his friend the poet Baudelaire whose views on the "heroism" of modernity so encouraged him. When exhibited in 1863 La Musique aux Tuileries with its lack of polish and bold brushwork shocked and infuriated the public. Manet has depicted himself standing on the extreme left. Next to him is Albert de Balleroy with whom he had shared a studio and just visible between them may be the writer Champfleury. Seated to their right is the sculptor and critic Zacharie Astruc. The two ladies wearing blue bonnets and seated in the foreground may be Madame Loubens (veiled) and Madame Lejosne. Directly behind the latter is the profile of Baudelaire and over his shoulder, facing out, the bearded face of painter Fantin-Latour. The prominent standing figure right of centre is Manet's brother Eugène while the spectacled seated figure to his right is the composer Offenbach. The centrally placed auburn haired child is Leon Leenhoff, Manet's godson and probably also natural son. (CK)
On View
On view
