Theodore Robinson

Theodore Robinson ( born July 3, 1852 in Irasburg, Vermont, † April 2, 1896 in New York City ) was an American painter, known for his impressionist landscapes. He was one of the first American artists, who took up impressionism in the late 1880s, visited Giverny and developing a close friendship with Claude Monet. Many of his works are considered masterpieces of American Impressionism.

Education and early career

Robinson was born in Irasburg, Vermont. His family moved to Wisconsin, and Robinson briefly studied art in Chicago. In 1874 he traveled to New York City to attend classes at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. In 1876 he traveled to Paris to study under Carolus- Duran and, at the École des Beaux -Arts, with Jean -Léon Gérôme. He exhibited his first painting in 1877 in Paris and then returned in 1879 for a number of years back to America. During this time Robinson painted in a realist manner, loosely painted but not yet impressionistic; often he trained persons in quiet domestic or agricultural activities.

Robinson at Giverny

Robinson returned in 1884 to France, where he would live for the next eight years and visited America only occasionally. Robinson moved to Giverny, which under the influence of Claude Monet was a center for the French Impressionist painting. Historians are not sure when Robinson met Monet on, but by 1888 their friendship was strong enough for Robinson to move into the neighborhood of the famous Impressionists. Robinson's art shifted during this time to a more traditional impressionistic manner, likely due to Monet's influence. While in Giverny homed many Americans, no one was as close to Monet as Robinson. Monet offered advice to Robinson, and just as he asked the opinion of Robinson on Monet's own progressing work.

Robinson painted in Giverny, which historians consider as some of his best work. Make the surrounding countryside in different weather is painted in the open air, sometimes with women in quiet conversations. An example of his mature work during this period is La Débâcle (1892 ) in the collection of Scripps College, Claremont ( California).

Return to America

Robinson left France and Monet 1892 final. After his return to America he stayed for a while in Napanoch, New York, a small town near the Catskill Mountains, where he painted several canal scenes. With New York City as the basis Robinson circled between a growing number of American artists and went on to Impressionism. He was particularly close to John Henry Twachtman and Julian Alden Weir, and spent a lot of time in the near artists' colony in Cos Cob School, Connecticut. There he painted a series of boat scenes at the Riverside Yacht Club which are regarded as some of his best work.

Last years

Although his reputation grew as an important American Impressionist, Robinson still needed help to learn something. He also had doubts about the quality of his work. His career and his life ended unexpectedly in April 1896 by a fatal asthma attack in New York City.

Today, the painting of Robinson found in the collections of many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Museums

• Nordsee Museum

Works

By the River, 1887

Winter Landscape, 1889

Capri, 1890

The Old Bridge, 1890

The Duck Pond, 1891

Père Trognon and His Daughter at the Bridge, 1891

Valley of the Seine from Giverny Heights, 1892

House with Scaffolding, 1892

Bridge near Giverny, about 1892

Road by the Mill, 1892

Canal Scene, 1893

World Colombian Exposition, 1894