Rococo to Impressionism at LACMA

I enrolled in a Gallery Course at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and attended it from 8:30 to 11:00 am on Saturday morning...yes they provided coffee.  The course was taught by Mary Lenihan, Director of Adult Programming at the museum.  She talked about art from the 18th and 19th century from Watteau to Cezanne.  She describe Rococo art as having a "shell form" and showed examples of Watteau and Chardin some with neoclassical influences (Greek and Roman).  She also describes the technical advances during this period that changed how artists worked.  This included portable easels, paint tubes, and pallet knives.  The artist was then free to paint outside and capture the bright colors of the landscape.  She also talked about how the "Salon" in Paris, the artist capital of the world, and how they controlled the art.  There were no private art galleries or sellers.  Everything was sold through the Salon with a jury of critics deciding what was good or not.  This led to little changes in the art until the Impressionist formed their own show...the refused artists...and the control of the Salon lessened.  This opened the door to creative paintings from the Post Impressionists, the Barbizon School who painted the simple life of villages in soft colors, and the Fauvists called "The Beasts" for their use of wild bright colors.

After about a half hour talk, she took us to the 3rd floor of the Ahmanson Building to look at art from these periods.

"Soap Bubbles," after 1739 by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, France, 1699 - 1779

"The Perfect Accord," 1719 by Jean-Antoine Watteau, France 1684-1721.  This small panel was painted on wood and hung in a fancy coach.

"Portrait of Jean-Pierre Delahaye," 1815 by Jacques-Louis David, France 1748-1825

"View of La-Ferte-Saint-Aubin, Near Orleans," 1837 by Constant Troyon, France, 1810-1865.  The artist was influence by England's John Constable a famous landscape painter.  The artist shared his vision of paintings the simple life of the country with other artist who lived in Barbizon and formed their school of work.  

"The Beach at Honfleur," 1864-66 by Claude Monet, France 1840-1926.  This Impressionist showed brush strokes in his work which was not allowed by The Salon. 

"View of Vetheuil," 1880 by Claude Monet.  In this painting Monet uses the blending of colors side by side and when viewed from a short distance the colors blend beautifully.