Last week, I compared and contrasted day-trips to two of France’s most opulent palaces, Versailles and Fontainebleau. At the end of the post, I mentioned that Fontainebleau has the added bonus of being situated on the edge of one of France’s most extensive forests. Originally established as a royal hunting ground, the Forest of Fontainebleau is notable for its varied topography with magnificent old-growth trees, stark plateaus, and dramatic stone formations. In 1861, the forest’s captivating landscape was deemed so remarkable that a significant portion was designated as a nature preserve, making it the first official natural preserve in history, set aside a decade before the founding of Yellowstone National Park.
The Forest of Fontainebleau also harbors the landscape where many French artists first experimented with and later perfected the art of plein-air painting. While the Italians are credited with being the first to produce artists who abandoned their studios in favor of the open air, the practice quickly spread across Europe. France’s Camille Corot is one of the country’s pioneers in this regard, and many of his earliest plein-air studies were made in the Forest of Fontainebleau.
In short order, Fontainebleau became a destination for many of France’s finest landscape painters and photographers. Its proximity to Paris also made it a convenient retreat, offering a wealth of vistas to aspiring artists.
I’d hoped to be in France this week, embarking upon a long-anticipated multi-week trip, but various circumstances have caused me to delay. In English, we say, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I find this French equivalent quite amusing: Faute de grives, on mange des merles. Translation: For lack of thrushes, one eats blackbirds.
In that spirit, rather than wandering the myriad sentiers that criss-cross Fontainebleau’s varied terrain, I’ve created this virtual tour of the famous forest, as seen through the eyes of 19th-century masters. I’d love to know which of these works are your favorites.
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The Sisley, Corot, and Famin spoke to me in different ways. The entire walk through the forest was most pleasing. Carol.
Thanks for sharing your favs Annie. After I posted, I found a different Sisley of the Fontainebleau woods that I prefer but this one is good because it depicts the forest in the fall. The Famin really is striking, reminding me that people living more than 150 years ago were perhaps not that different.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite but I have a special fondness for the one by Rosa Bonheur. First, because she’s the only woman but also because her painting borders on photographic precision.
Quelle belle promenade. Merci Carole
Je t’en prie Brieuc.
PS. I hope your French plan is only delayed?
Is that right? Sorry to hear that? Everything all right on the home front?
Oh, my goodness! What a gorgeous collection of art! You can see why the place inspired so many people.
I agree. All of these works were done long enough ago that they’re now in the public domain.
But, as I worked on the post, I wondered about modern day works that cover the same subject. It would be fun to see a comparison.