James Tissot Exhibition at Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum will be hosting a spectacular exhibition of the watercolor paintings of the illustrious 19th century French painter, James Tissot (1836-1902). It looks marvelous! The exhibition is “The Life of Christ,” and will include 124 of Tissot’s watercolors. Tissot was a remarkable painter– in an era when French painters were still dabbling in impressionism, pointilism, and heavy oil washes, Tissot was moving toward realism in watercolor. His paintings are lovely, and give a glimpse into the thoughtfulness of the painter.

The Tissot exhibition begins October 23 through January 17, 2010. The Brooklyn Museum owns many Tissot works; this is the first time in two decades that any of Tissot’s watercolors have been on view. The exhibition will begin with the Birth of Christ and continue on to the Resurrection. James Tissot was a renowned painter in Paris and London, beginning his career with portraits of the fashion set in the cities. But Tissot while doing research for a series, Tissot “had a religious experience,” and dedicated the rest of his life to painting the life of Christ and other Biblical people and events. He went on to illustrate the New Testament, in 1886.

There is a website that lists Tissot’s paintings of the life of Christ, The Passion of Christ Illustrated by James Tissot, with images of his paintings. It has been said that when people viewed his work, women would begin weeping and men would remove their hats in awe.

From the Brooklyn Museum’s press release:

In May 1901 the 350 watercolors, newly mounted in gold mats and reframed, went on view for the first time on Eastern Parkway; records seem to indicate they remained on nearly continuous display until the 1930s. Since then, in part because of conservation concerns, they have only rarely been shown, and then only small portions of the series, most recently in late 1989 through early 1990.

For more information and for museum hours, see the Brooklyn Museum website.