Portrait of Louise Audiat

Today, Corot is remembered primarily for his naturalistic and poetic landscapes, which inspired a generation of artists interested in defying traditional artistic training. Yet Corot also produced several portraits of friends and family. Portrait of Louise Audiat (who later became known as Madame Hamman after marrying a Belgian painter) is one such example. Although Corot inspired future artists to experiment with technique, this portrait reveals his training in the Old Master tradition. Rather than depicting Audiat in contemporary garments, he portrayed her wearing an antique tunic. In doing so, he sought to legitimize his artistic virtuosity through his knowledge of classical Greek art and culture.