Fantin-Latour, Henri
(1836-1904). French painter and lithographer.
He is best known for his luxurious flower pieces, but he also painted several
group portraits that are important historical documents and show his
friendship with leading avant-garde artists.
Homage to Delacroix
(Musée d'Orsay, Paris, 1864) shows Fantin-Latour himself, with
Baudelaire,
Manet,
Whistler,
and others grouped round a portrait of
Delacroix; and
A Studio at Batignolles
(sometimes called Homage to Manet)
(Musée d'Orsay, Paris, 1870) shows
Monet,
Renoir,
and others in Manet's studio. In spite of his associations with such
progressive artists, Fantin-Latour was a traditionalist, and his portraits
particularly are in a precise, detailed style. Much of his later career
was devoted to lithography; he greatly admired Richard Wagner and did
imaginative lithographs illustrating his music and that of other
Romantic composers.