Jean-François Millet, French, 1814–1875; The Angelus, 1857–1859; oil on canvas; 21 7/8 x 26 inches; Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France 2020.28; Photo: Patrice Schmidt, © RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY
Join us for an online experience of Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí. Begin with our Director’s welcome below, and enter the world of Millet, his many followers, and the innovative and breathtaking work they created. You will encounter text, images, and audio content from specialists (all pictured below) who offer a deep dive into specific works of art. Our journey begins in 19th-century France, on the coast of Normandy.
Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí is organized by the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, with exceptional support from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris. The exhibition is presented in St. Louis by the Betsy and Thomas Patterson Foundation. Additional support is provided by the E. Desmond Lee Family Endowment for Exhibitions; the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; the National Endowment for the Arts; and Christie’s. The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities.
Brent R. Benjamin
The Barbara B. Taylor Director
Director's Introduction
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Transcript
Speaker: Brent Benjamin
Barbara B. Taylor Director
Saint Louis Art MuseumHello, I’m Brent Benjamin, Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Welcome to Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí. The exhibition considers the artistic legacy of Jean-François Millet, a successful Realist painter in the 19th century whose work subsequently inspired some of the most prominent names in Modern art. This guide offers expert commentary about 15 works of art by Millet and his successors, including Vincent van Gogh, Winslow Homer, and Edgar Degas.
You will hear from Simon Kelly, curator of modern and contemporary art; Abigail Yoder, research assistant; Sophie Barbisan, assistant paper conservator; and Amy Torbert, assistant curator of American art, all at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Together they share insights into Millet’s life and work, draw comparisons between Millet’s art and those he influenced, and guide you as you look more closely at a variety of Modern subjects, techniques, and stylistic characteristics. I hope you enjoy your visit to Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí.