3 Review(s)

Jean Francois Millet by Estelle M. Hurll is a concise and insightful biography of the renowned French painter, Jean-François Millet, best known for his depictions of peasant life and rural scenes. Hurll’s book offers a detailed exploration of Millet’s life, his artistic development, and the cultural and social influences that shaped his work.The biography begins by tracing Millet's early life, from his upbringing in the rural village of Gruchy in Normandy to his eventual training as an artist in Paris. Hurll emphasizes how Millet's humble origins had a profound impact on his artistic vision, leading him to focus on the dignity and hardship of rural laborers in his paintings. This focus on the working class set Millet apart from many of his contemporaries, and Hurll notes how his work was initially misunderstood and even criticized by the art establishment.