“I always start a painting with the sky.” ~Alfred Sisley
Alfred Sisley (pronunciation) was born in Paris on October 30, 1839, to British parents. His mother died when he was just a baby, and his father moved the family back to England when Sisley was six years old.
He spent his childhood in England, before moving back to France in 1857 to study art. After a few years of unsuccessful painting and sculpting, Alfred became friends with Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The three often painted together, and his work was greatly influenced by his interactions with these artists. He finally found his calling with landscape painting in the Impressionist style.
However, he struggled financially throughout his life, because Impressionism was not yet accepted by the mainstream art world. So he was often forced to sell his paintings in order to make ends meet. Despite these difficulties, Sisley remained dedicated to his art, and continued to paint in plein air (outdoors), even in the coldest and snowiest of weather.
Sisley’s work is characterized by its soft colors and delicate brushstrokes. He was particularly skilled at capturing the play of light on water. Many of his paintings depict the River Seine, near his home in France.
He married Marie-Louise Bodichon (pronunciation) in 1874, and the couple had two daughters. Sadly, Marie-Louise died in 1879, just a few years after they were married. This tragedy deeply affected Sisley, and can be seen in the somber tones of many of his later paintings.
His artistic career was also cut short by his untimely death from throat cancer in 1899 at the age of 59 years old, just as Impressionism was beginning to gain acceptance from the art establishment.
Despite his relatively short career, Alfred Sisley left a lasting impression on the art world. His work can be found in major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musee d’Orsay (pronunciation) in Paris, and the National Gallery in London.
Alfred Sisley
Alfred Sisley – Paintings & Drawings (Zedign Art Series)Alfred Sisley: 166 Masterpieces (Annotated Masterpieces Book 33)
