Henry Moret

Henry Moret – Military service opened the way to art

Henry Moret was born in the French town of Cherbourg on 12 December 1856; the son of an officer, little is known about his childhood and youth. The light of history struck the artist first with his call to military service in 1875 when his commanding officer, Jules La Villette, noticed the young soldier’s talent in Lorient and arranged painting lessons for him with Ernest Corroller, a marine and landscape painter in the tradition of Jean-Baptist-Camille Corot and Gustave Courbet. This training paved the way for Henry Moret to Paris where he enrolled as a student at the École des Beaux-Arts and was taught by Jean-Léon Gérôme and Rudolf Lehmann. Further studies followed in 1880 at the Académie Julian with the history painter Jean-Paul Laurens and that same year he exhibited for the first time in the Salon de Paris, finally attracting attention. His contribution was titled La plage de Locqueltas à marée basse; Côte de Bretagne.

Connected to Brittany as man and artist

Henry Moret remained true to Brittany not only artistically his whole life. In 1888 he was amongst the painters who rallied around Paul Gauguin in Pont-Aven, alongside other famous names such as Ernest de Chamaillard and Émile Jourdan. When Gauguin left Brittany, Moret began to develop his own style but showed clear references to the symbolism of his former mentor. Indeed, the numerous landscapes Moret produced from motifs in Brittany are often confused with the work of Paul Gauguin. In 1895, Moret became friends with Paul Durand-Ruel, who owned several galleries in Paris, London and New York. Durand-Ruel went on to mediate over 600 pictures by the artist to a growing base of interested collectors, many in the USA, whilst Moret was able to exhibit seven of his works in the renowned Salon des Indépendants. Financially, the artist now stood on solid ground and no longer had to worry. 

The artistic path led to Impressionism

In the course of his artistic career, Henry Moret experimented with various styles, but from his classical beginnings and through the influence of Gauguin and his circle, he developed consistently in the direct of Impressionism. With his choice of motifs, his pronounced love of nature increasingly crystalised, whilst contemporary painters such as Maxime Maufra praised Moret’s astute powers of observation which were reflected in his art. As well as oil paintings, Henry Moret created over 800 watercolours and drawings. The pleasing lighting effects that lent his storm scenes and sunsets great vibrancy are particularly impressive. In 1920, Henry Moret married the seamstress Célina Chatenet, whom he had met in 1893 and to whom he owed support in times of austerity. 

Henry Moret died in Paris on 5 May 1913.