During his lifetime Manet was the recognised head, and around him was formed the famous circle of the Café Guerbois, which became known as the School of Batignolles. This included Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, Cézanne, Renoir, and Degas. If there is one man greater than the others it is Claude Monet. Only during comparatively recent years have his originality and strength been generally recognised. He now occupies the position held by Manet, although he cannot be said to be Manet’s successor. Manet painted the figure, seldom attempting landscape, a _genre_ which is primarily Monet’s. Claude Monet is doubly indebted to English art. Profoundly moved by Turner, whose works he studied at first hand in England, he also traces an artistic descent through Jongkind and Boudin from Corot, who caught the methods of Constable and Bonington. Jongkind and Boudin are two little masters not to be forgotten. Not altogether Impressionists themselves, they were in close affinity to the school upon which they had much influence. Men of uncommon character and earnestness of purpose, their art was sincere. In themselves they were interesting, for, richly endowed with natural talents, they were for the most part poor beyond belief in material wealth. Inspired by a genuine love for Nature in all her aspects they never reached the high technique of their English predecessors, and were far surpassed by Claude Monet and his group. Forerunners in the evolution of the school of “plein air” painting, a reference is necessary to them in order to follow the development of the school as a whole. For the first time in the history of art women have taken an active part in founding a new school. Madame Berthe Morisot, Miss Mary Cassatt, and Madame Eva Gonzalès must be included amongst the early Impressionists. Various movements based upon the Impressionistic idea have taken place in France and on the Continent generally. There are the _Pointillistes_ for instance, and the Neo-Impressionists. Amongst foreign artists Whistler must be mentioned; a student at Gleyre’s he attended at the Café Guerbois, and embraced many of Manet’s ideas. The history of the early battles over Impressionism centres for the most part round one personality. In following the story of the failures and successes of Edouard Manet we follow the gradual rise of the entire school, for no man fought more bravely in defence of its principles. [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _Photo by Fredk. Hollyer_ RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE · G. F. WATTS ] [Illustration: VIEW OF HONFLEUR · J. B. JONGKIND ] CHAPTER II · “THE FORERUNNERS.” JONGKIND, BOUDIN, AND CEZANNE “ILS PRENNENT LA NATURE ET ILS LA RENDENT, ILS LA RENDENT VUE À TRAVERS LEURS TEMPÉRAMENTS PARTICULIERS. CHAQUE ARTISTE VA NOUS DONNER AINSI UN MONDE DIFFÉRENT, ET J’ACCEPTERAI VOLONTIERS TOUS CES DIVERS MONDES”