Charles Bargue, Master of Painting

Charles Bargue was a phenomenal artist of great skill and natural abilities that we know very little about. But by his work, he will never be forgotten. His craftsmanship is of the highest order. Bargue worked alongside Jean Leon Gerome for the Highly prised Cousre for students, a rudimentary but detailed volume to assist with the prestigious Frech system of painting as practiced throughout the 19th century, and still the standard of use today. Young artists are discovering the true value of Bargue's teachings and his own work as an example. Charles Bargue was a true Master that we value again today.

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

A marvellous video!! Thanks!!! We use the Bargue drawings in the Angel Academy of course; I particularly admire Bargue's figural line drawings that teach us how to design the figure, using a combination of looking at the model and drawing on an understanding of classical sculpture. Bargue's brilliant, rhythmic outlines interpret the edges of the shapes in terms of C-curves, S-curves and straight lines.

[@jascha9033]

Great comment, thank you! Do you know where I can find out more about the principles of classical sculpture? I mean a blog post, book, video or similar :) thank you!

[@artistscent6097]

Maestro 🙇‍♂️

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

@@jascha9033 Hi Jascha, the best book I know of is Art and Experience in Classical Greece, by J.J. Pollitt. Learning how to apply these ideas, though, takes a few years of study: simplifying, breaking the outlines of the shapes into rhythmic sections as Bargue shows us in his figure drawings, and learning how to conceptualise the figure (or anything else), using only those suggestions from the model that are useful for our ideas. As I like to state it to my classes: it's a matter of seeing the Eternal beyond the Specific. Pollitt expresses this as the "representation of the specific in the light of the generic."
You might want to look up the Theory of Forms on Wikipedia for a straightforward explanation of how the Greek sculptors thought of this.

[@jon780249]

Thanks for this illuminating video of Bargue. The problem he had and the reason he was likely so reluctant to exhibit at the Salon is that while his technique was flawless, his paintings were so derivative of Meissonier and Gêrome. In a period where innovation became synonymous with success, he seems to have fared poorly. But his instructional course is a lasting legacy.

[@tuyetpham8239]

How is it possible that a great master painter of this caliber is so little known?
Thank you very much for this video!

[@cherilynne1946]

Thank you for introducing me to this artist. Not only am I in awe of his incredible ability to render, with remarkable precision, skin tones and textures, but of his graceful line drawings.
It was mentioned that the artist didn’t have an easy life, but there was no discussion of the particular challenges he experienced. I can’t help but wonder what kind(s) of personal struggles he faced.

[@Remtech7]

What a discovery this brilliant pupil of Gérome ! ...should he have lived longer he would have most certainly be rated along Meissonier and Gerome as the most talented 'academic' artist of the 19th ! century !

[@user-ef8ow1nz1o]

I learn't a lot doing the Bargue Plates when studying fundamentals. Its the fast track to gleaning the power of shadow shapes and edge variation. Its a lesson in "less is more", less means mystery as well as gaining more powerful compositions

[@marianclough8577]

Thank you for presenting Charles Bargue. His work is magnificent.

[@williamschlenger1518]

Amazon art.The first I've heard of him.

[@MaximillianHemmings]

Wonderful !! Thank you!

[@pdpete]

Such a great presentation one of my favorite artist and unsung hero’s of the academic world

[@davidwright8665]

😊 thank you very much for an artist I did not know about. Amazing.

[@robertclapsadle8552]

Incredible artist! A master. Grateful for this very fine video. His was the color of gold.

[@johngraham4053]

Amazing skill of Charles Bargue, super presentation. Enjoyed. Thank you .

[@stevescott2903]

Mind blowingly brilliant.... Thanks so much for this feature on what is a little known artist outside of the art community & academics who's talents were beyond gigantic.

[@simoneverodimarrow]

❤

[@jaimeochoa7256]

What splendid works of Art...Thank you for bringing Bargue's story to our attention...❤

[@allenvoss7977]

Incredible artist

[@leilalagren]

We use this also in farigh Ghaderi art studio in Sweden Stockholm ❤

[@gammelllackinstitute]

Good to hear from you from Sweden, thanks

[@leilalagren]

So amazing and thanks 🙏🏻 ❤

[@DashCourageous]

I started that drawing course some years ago and wished I'd have finished it.

[@khemetbey803]

Truly astonishing

[@sashas5844]

Thank you very much for this wonderful information!!! Great artwork!!!

[@paintkerrypaint]

Brilliant *

[@MrSilva960]

Add more Orientalist painters, if you can do it

[@gammelllackinstitute]

We plan on it, Thanks

[@issol7643]

___________✨___________

[@chompers11]

Bananas 😮