The oil on canvas shows an oarsman in a top hat rowing his skiff on languid waters. The work, remarkable in its realism, delicate colors and almost cinematic perspective, as though the artist was in the boat with the rower, went on display Monday in the Musée d’Orsay. It is the latest addition to the
The painting was sold by Caillebotte's descendants. It had been one of the last Impressionist masterpieces still in private hands, said
“A work of art of this level, this quality, an absolute masterpiece, there are nearly no more left in the Impressionist period," he said. “This painting was, of course, sought after by the biggest museums in the world," he said.
Managing to keep the painting in
Although a prolific painter in his own right, Caillebotte was long better known as a millionaire patron of
Born into a wealthy family, Caillebotte accumulated an enviable collection of dozens of works by his friends
After Caillebotte died at age 45 in
His reputation as an important collector and donor of Impressionist art long overshadowed Caillebotte's own contributions to the movement as a painter, partly because he didn't include his own work in the collection he bequeathed to the French state.
When Caillebotte died, unmarried and without children, his brother Martial Caillebotte inherited 175 of the artist's works.
Much of his work stayed in his descendants' hands and just a sliver of it ended up in French museums.
Leicester reported from
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission., source