Philippe Rousseau

The son of an opera singer, Philippe Rousseau is said to have apprenticed with Gros (q.v.) and Bertin (q.v.). Their impact, however, remains minor, and Rousseau appears to have been largely self-taught. He made his debut at the Salon of 1834, and would exhibit there throughout his life. He initially painted landscapes, often depicting scenes from Normandy. It was not until 1844 that he began exhibiting still lifes. One year later he combined what would become his two principal genres, the still life and the animal painting, in a work entitled The City Rat and the Country Rat (1845,...