Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Peña

{"Id":62,"Name":"Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Pe\u00F1a","Biography":"\u003Cstrong\u003ED\u0026Iacute;AZ DE LA PE\u0026Ntilde;A, NARCISSE-VIRGILE (1808-1876)\u003C/strong\u003E, French painter, was born in Bordeaux of Spanish parents, on the 25th of August 1808. At first a figure-painter who indulged in strong color, in his later life D\u0026iacute;az became a painter of the forest and a tone artist of the first order. He spent much time at Barbizon; and although he is the least exalted of the half-dozen great artists who are usually grouped round that name, he sometimes produced works of the highest quality. At the age of ten Diaz became an orphan, and misfortune dogged his earlier years. His foot was bitten by a reptile in Meudon wood, near Svres, where he had been taken to live with some friends of his mother. The bite was badly dressed, and ultimately it cost him his leg. Afterwards his wooden stump became famous. At fifteen he entered the studios at Svres, where the decoration of porcelain occupied him; but tiring of the restraint of fixed hours, he took to painting Eastern figures dressed in richly colored garments. Turks and Oriental scenes attracted him, and many brilliant gems remain of this period. About 1831 D\u0026iacute;az encountered \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=458\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003ETh\u0026eacute;odore Rousseau\u003C/a\u003E, for whom he entertained a great veneration, although Rousseau was four years his junior; but it was not until ten years later that the remarkable incident took place of Rousseau teaching Diaz to paint trees. At Fontainebleau D\u0026iacute;az found Rousseau painting his wonderful forest pictures, and determined to paint in the same way if possible. Rousseau, then in poor health, worried at home, and embittered against the world, was difficult to approach. D\u0026iacute;az followed him surreptitiously to the forest, wooden leg not hindering, and he dodged round after the painter, trying to observe his method of work. After a time D\u0026iacute;az found a way to become friendly with Rousseau, and revealed his anxiety to understand his painting. Rousseau was touched with the passionate words of admiration, and finally taught D\u0026iacute;az all he knew. Diaz exhibited many pictures at the Paris Salon, and was decorated in 1851. During the Franco-German War he went to Brussels. After 1871 he became fashionable, his works gradually rose in the estimation of collectors, and he worked constantly and successfully. In 1876 he caught cold at his son\u0027s grave, and on the 18th of November of that year he died at Mentone, whither he had gone to recruit his health. D\u0026iacute;az\u0027s finest pictures are his forest scenes and storms, and it is on these, and not on his pretty figures, that his fame is likely to rest. There are several fairly good examples of the master in the Louvre, and three small figure pictures in the Wallace collection, Hertford House. Perhaps the most notaLle of D\u0026iacute;az\u0027s works are \u003Cu\u003ELa F\u0026eacute;e aux Perles\u003C/u\u003E (1857), in the Louvre; \u003Cu\u003ESunset in the Forest\u003C/u\u003E (1868); \u003Cu\u003EThe Storm\u003C/u\u003E, and \u003Cu\u003EThe Forest of Fontainebleau\u003C/u\u003E (1870) at Leeds. D\u0026iacute;az had no well-known pupils, but \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=1231\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003ELeon Richet\u003C/a\u003E followed markedly his methods of tree-painting, and \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=745\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EJ. F. Millet\u003C/a\u003E at one period painted small figures in avowed imitation of D\u0026iacute;az\u0027s then popular subjects.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESee A. Flustin, \u003Cu\u003ELes Artistes cilbres: D\u0026iacute;az\u003C/u\u003E (Paris); D. Croal Thomson, \u003Cu\u003EThe Barbizon School of Painters\u003C/u\u003E (London, 1890); J. W. Mollett, \u003Cu\u003ED\u0026iacute;az\u003C/u\u003E (London, 1890); J. Claretie, \u003Cu\u003EPeintres et sculpteurs contemporains: D\u0026iacute;az\u003C/u\u003E (Paris, 1882); Albert Wolff, \u003Cu\u003ELa Capitale de Lan: Narcisse D\u0026iacute;az\u003C/u\u003E (Paris, 1886); Ph. Burty, \u003Cu\u003EMa\u0026icirc;tres et petitma\u0026icirc;tres: N. D\u0026iacute;az\u003C/u\u003E (Paris, 1877). (D.C.T.)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/u\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cli type=\u0022square\u0022\u003EBiographical entry in the \u003Ca href=\u0022http://34.1911encyclopedia.org/D/DI/DIAZ_NARCISSE.htm\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003E1911 Encyclopedia Britannica\u003C/a\u003E.\u003Cp\u003E","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":true,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":true,"HasLetters":true,"HasLibraryItems":true,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":true,"TotalArtworks":29}