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Charles-Francois Daubigny

Charles-François Daubigny (Paris, February 15 1817 - Paris, February 19 1878) was one of the painters of the school of Barbizon, and is considered an important precursor of impressionism.

Daubigny was born in a family of painters and was taught the art by his father Edmond François Daubigny and his uncle, miniaturist Pierre Daubigny.

Initially Daubigny painted in a traditional style, but this changed after 1843 when he settled in Barbizon to work outside in nature. Even more important was his meeting with Camille Corot in 1852 in Optevoz (Isère). On his famous boat Botin, which he had turned into a studio, he painted along the Seine and Oise, often in the region around Auvers. From 1852 onwards he got under the influence of Gustave Courbet, and his style went more and more in the direction of what later would become impressionism.

In 1866 Daubigny visited England, and he returned because of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. In London he met Claude Monet, and together they left for the Netherlands. Back in Auvers, he met Paul Cézanne, another important impressionist. It is assumed that these younger painters have been influenced by Daubigny.