Travel Essays · Chapter
III explained
The author reflects on his time as a 'Barbizonian' in the artistic community of Barbizon, describing the post-Millet era, the decline of the Latin Quarter's bohemian tradition, the influx of Anglo-Saxon artists, and the easygoing life at Si
What happens
The author reflects on his time as a 'Barbizonian' in the artistic community of Barbizon, describing the post-Millet era, the decline of the Latin Quarter's bohemian tradition, the influx of Anglo-Saxon artists, and the easygoing life at Siron's inn. He recalls figures like Gaston Lafenestre and the promising but unfulfilled artist Hills, and contrasts the fates of Millet and his rival.
Themes in this chapter
Art and the Artistic Life
The chapter vividly portrays the artistic community at Barbizon, the legacy of Millet, and the struggles and camaraderie of painters living and working there.
Mortality and the Passage of Time
Reflections on the deaths of Millet and young artists like Gaston Lafenestre and Hills, and the decline of former favorites, underscore the fleeting nature of life and artistic fame.
Characters to notice
- Gaston Lafenestre
Remembered as a kind, comely, modest young artist taken by untimely death before achieving success.
- Hills
A young artist of great promise, enamored of eccentricities and the motto 'Il faut faire de la peinture nouvelle,' who died early.
Key passages
“I was for some time a consistent Barbizonian; et ego in Arcadia vixi, it was a pleasant season; and that noiseless hamlet lying close among the borders of the wood is for me, as for so many others, a green spot in memory.”
I was a devoted member of the Barbizon artist colony for a while; I too lived in Arcadia, it was a delightful time, and that quiet village near the forest remains a cherished memory for me and many others.
The author fondly recalls his time in Barbizon, using the Latin phrase 'et ego in Arcadia vixi' to evoke a lost pastoral idyll.
“The good Lachèvre has departed, carrying his household gods; and long before that Gaston Lafenestre was taken from our midst by an untimely death.”
The kind Lachèvre has moved away, taking his belongings; and even earlier, Gaston Lafenestre was taken from us by a premature death.
The author notes the departure of Lachèvre and the early death of Lafenestre, marking the dissolution of the Barbizon community.