A French painter and art collector who preserved and promoted the works of Impressionist masters like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and was also a model for many famous artists. Her collection and legacy continue to inspire art lovers today.
Julie Manet was a French painter, model, diarist, and art collector, best known for her riveting diary accounts that offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of the most renowned Impressionist artists of her time. As the daughter of Berthe Morisot, a prominent Impressionist painter, and Eugene Manet, brother of Édouard Manet, Julie's life was inextricably linked to the art world, rendering her a fascinating subject in her own right.
Born on November 14, 1878, in Paris, Julie's earliest memories were perhaps colored by the vibrant hues of her mother's paintings. As a frequent model for her mother and other notable artists like Renoir and her uncle Édouard, Julie's presence was a constant in the Impressionist circle. Her diary, published as Growing Up with the Impressionists, provides a candid narrative of the daily lives of these artistic giants, offering unparalleled insights into their personalities, relationships, and artistic processes.
Tragedy struck when Julie was just 16, with the untimely demise of both her parents within a span of three years. This devastating loss left her orphaned, and she came under the guardianship of the poet and critic Stéphane Mallarmé. The support of her family's artist friends, particularly Renoir, helped her navigate this difficult period. Despite the challenges, Julie's experiences would later shape her unique perspective as a diarist and art collector.
In May 1900, Julie married the painter and engraver Ernest Rouart, son of Henri Rouart, in a double ceremony where her cousin Jeannine Gobillard married Paul Valéry. The union produced three children: Julien (1901), Clément (1906), and Denis (1908). Julie's sons, Julien and Denis, would inherit some of Morisot's most precious paintings, now housed in the Marmottan Monet Museum.
Julie's diary, with its unbridled honesty and humor, offers a unique window into the lives of the Impressionist masters. Her candid accounts of dinner table conversations, including those about the Dreyfus Affair, provide valuable context to the period's social and political climate. As an art collector, Julie played a significant role in preserving and promoting the works of her mother and other Impressionist artists, ensuring their legacies endured for generations to come.
"I saw Renoir, who was painting my mother's portrait, and I was enchanted by his manner of working, so simple and yet so powerful." — Julie Manet, Growing Up with the Impressionists
Julie Manet's life was intertwined with the era of Impressionism, a period of artistic innovation and rebellion. Her experiences, as recorded in her diary, offer a distinctive perspective on the lives of the artists who shaped the movement. As a diarist, art collector, and model, Julie's contributions have ensured that the Impressionist legacy remains vibrant and relevant to this day.
Born in 1841
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Born in 1841
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Born in 1840
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