In the salon hang at NGV International we can stop and admire a painting by James Tissot. Titled ‘An interesting story’ this oil on wood panel dated c. 1872 depicts two fashionably dressed and seemingly bored young women from the late 1700s seated at a table while an older soldier attempts to interest them in a map and a story he is telling – probably about his past or intended military exploits. A typically grey overcast London day is seen through the window as boats float on the Thames River in front of rows of warehouses. The room in the tavern (in Rotherhithe or Wapping) is comfortable with its polished wood table, dainty chairs and tray with drinks and a cake. But the postures and expressions on the faces of the young women – distracted, disinterested, devoid of feeling – capture a moment of duty rather than desire in the meeting with their unaware interlocutor. The title of the painting is clearly ironic.
The NGV also has an etching by Tissot from 1878 called Histoire ennuyeuse (An uninteresting story) which references the same theme. This work on paper derives from a painting ‘The Tedious Story’ c. 1872 which is privately owned. There are another five etchings by Tissot held by the NGV and they are all part of his ‘narrative works’ (many featuring the Thames) from his time in England. The painting on display at NGVI was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1872 and was one of the first paintings Tissot showed in London after leaving France.
James Tissot (1836-1902) was an accomplished and interesting artist who was very highly regarded during his lifetime but was largely forgotten after his death until recently. On Howard Oakley’s blog – ‘The Eclectic Light Company’ – there is a very good overview with images in the ‘Life and paintings of James Tissot’: https://eclecticlight.co/2016/07/22/life-and-paintings-of-james-tissot-an-overview/
In summary, Tissot was born in Nantes, France to devoutly Catholic parents. His father was a prosperous and successful draper and his mother a milliner. While christened Jacques, Tissot was an Anglophile from an early age and changed his name to James when commencing his art education in Paris aged 17 years. Tissot’s art training was influenced by the paintings of Ingres, the Belgian painter Henri Leys, the German artists Peter von Cornelius and Moritz Retzsch, and by his friendships with Whistler, Degas and Manet.
Tissot first exhibited in the Paris Salon in 1859 and his work was admired. He continued to exhibit in Paris and within three years was also showing works in London. Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Tissot moved to London where he stayed for 11 years – largely because of his relationship with Kathleen Newton. Newton, an Irish divorcee, was his lover, mother of his child and muse. She sadly died of consumption in 1882 leaving Tissot bereft and resulting in his return to France to live.
The themes of Tissot’s art changed significantly over time. His early works depict scenes from the Middle Ages and the story of Goethe’s ‘Faust’. He later moved to narrative themes (like the painting in the NGV collection) and is best known for depictions of modern life – often portraying fashionable interiors with elegantly dressed women which appealed to wealthy British industrialists. There is a good youtube video of his different art themes at: James Tissot Paintings! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JaQx4CGiDY. However, it is his late career themes that generated today’s blog post.
In 1885, Tissot experienced a revival of his Catholic faith, inspired by a religious experience he had in the Church of Saint-Sulpice, and this led to him spending the rest of his life making paintings about Biblical events. To assist in his completion of biblical illustrations, Tissot traveled to the Middle East in 1886, 1889, and 1896 to make studies of the landscape and people. This resulted in a series of around 350 gouache paintings which illustrated the life of Christ. These were enthusiastically acknowledged by the public and critics and the complete set was purchased by the Brooklyn Museum in 1900. The works are a fascinating ‘biography’ of the life of Christ and can be viewed at: James Tissot: A collection of 349 paintings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g3KbANg3xs
‘Crucifixion, seen from the Cross’ c. 1890 is one of the works in the series. It is an extraordinary painting which gives Christ’s perspective of the crucifixion rather than featuring Him as the centre of the work. We see Christ observing the crowd of spectators before him. Beneath His bloodied feet, Mary Magdalene lies prostrate, her hands clasped, looking beseechingly towards Him. Behind her the Virgin Mary is distraught as she clutches her breast while John the Evangelist looks up devastated and disbelieving. As the Brooklyn Museum notes, by adopting the point of view of Christ himself, Tissot gives viewers: “accustomed to looking at the event from the outside, a rare opportunity to imagine themselves in Christ’s place and consider his final thoughts and feelings as he gazed on the enemies and friends who were witnessing, or participating in, his death”. This is one of the most confronting artworks made about the crucifixion.
In the other painting from the series shown above, ‘The Resurrection’, we are outside the tomb guarded by watchmen as we see Jesus miraculously rise from the dead. His face shines forth and the wounds on his head, hands, feet, and chest glow bright white. The guards shook and “became as dead men,” Matthew says, at the sight of the risen Jesus, falling backwards in abject terror. Glowing more brilliantly than the guards’ lanterns, an angel visible just inside the tomb at right will later reassure Mary Magdalene and the other holy women that Jesus has risen.
Tissot was a meticulous artist and in the year 1869, the critic Élie Roy wrote: “[If] our industrial and artistic creations may perish, our customs and costumes may fall into oblivion, a painting by Mr Tissot will be enough for archaeologists of the future to reconstruct our era.” While Tissot may not be remembered as well as his peers, his influence can be seen in more recent times in providing the lifestyle depicted in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film, ‘The Age of Innocence’ as well as providing the design for the Ark of the Covenant in the movie ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
