Édouard Manet Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Children, Cause of Death

Édouard Manet was a French painter who played a pivotal role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism in the 19th century.

  While he never fully identified with the Impressionist movement, his groundbreaking approach to painting modern life and innovative techniques influenced many artists.

Manet is celebrated for his controversial paintings that challenged traditional artistic conventions and sparked debate about the representation of contemporary subjects.

Works like Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe and Olympia established him as a key figure in the development of modern art.

Profile

•   Full name: Édouard Manet
•   Date of birth: January 23, 1832
•    Age as of 2024: 192 (would be)
•   Gender: Male
•   Place of birth: Paris, France
•   Nationality: French
•   Profession: Painter
•   Height: N/A
•   Parents: Auguste Manet (father), Eugénie-Désirée Fournier (mother)
•   Siblings: Eugène Manet (brother), Gustave Manet (brother)
•   Spouse: Suzanne Leenhoff (married 1863)
•   Children: Léon Leenhoff
•   Relationship status: N/A (deceased)
•   Religion: N/A
•   Ethnicity: French
•   Net worth: $200k

Early Life and Education

Édouard Manet, who would have been 192 in 2024, was born to an affluent family on January 23, 1832, in Paris, France. His father, Auguste Manet, was a judge, and his mother, Eugénie-Désirée Fournier, was the daughter of a diplomat. Manet‘s family expected him to pursue a respectable law or navy career, but he showed an early interest in art.

Despite his family’s reservations, Manet pursued his artistic ambitions. He studied under the academic painter Thomas Couture and spent considerable time copying Old Master paintings at the Louvre.

These early experiences shaped his understanding of art history and technique, but Manet would soon abandon traditional approaches to forge his own distinctive style.

Personal Life

Manet’s personal life was marked by his long-term relationship with Suzanne Leenhoff, a Dutch-born pianist. They married in 1863, but their relationship was complex.

Before their marriage, Suzanne had a son, Léon Leenhoff, and there is speculation about the true nature of their relationship and the paternity of Léon.

Manet was known for his charm and wit and was a prominent figure in Parisian art and literary circles. He frequented cafes and salons, where he interacted with writers, musicians, and fellow artists, including those who would later become known as the Impressionists.

Career

Édouard Manet began exhibiting his paintings in the 1860s, but his work often met hostility from the conservative art establishment. His paintings challenged traditional notions of beauty and decorum, and his bold brushwork and unconventional compositions were seen as a rejection of academic standards.

Manet‘s most famous works, such as Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (1863) and Olympia (1863), sparked public outrage and critical condemnation. However, these paintings also garnered the attention and admiration of younger artists seeking to break free from the constraints of academic art.  

Manet’s influence on the Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, was significant. He encouraged their exploration of modern subjects and their experimentation with light and color.

Net worth

Manet‘s net worth was around $200k during his lifetime. Although he came from a wealthy family, he achieved little financial success as an artist.

The Salon often rejected his paintings, and he faced considerable criticism. However, his work gained recognition in the later years of his career, and today, his paintings are among the most valuable in the world.

Death

Édouard Manet died on April 30, 1883, at 51, in Paris, France. He suffered from syphilis, which led to complications and, ultimately, his death.  

Despite his relatively short career, Manet left a lasting impact on the art world. His innovative approach to painting and his willingness to challenge artistic conventions paved the way for the development of modern art.

Controversy

Édouard Manet’s career was intertwined with controversy. His paintings often challenged societal norms and sparked debate about the representation of the human body, mainly the female nude.

Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, depicting a nude woman casually picnicking with two clothed men, was deemed scandalous and immoral. Olympia, a portrait of a reclining naked woman, further fueled controversy with its direct gaze and confrontational pose.

Manet‘s loose brushwork and rejection of traditional techniques also drew criticism. His paintings were seen as unfinished and needing more detail. However, these very qualities would later be celebrated by the Impressionists and subsequent generations of artists.

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