This is a free virtual exhibition of 15 works by Édouard Manet that you can walk through in your browser, on desktop or phone, with nothing to install. Among the works on view are The Races at Longchamp and Portrait of Berthe Morisot with a Fan.
About Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet (1832–1883) was a French painter who stands at the turning point between Realism and Impressionism. Born into a prosperous Paris family, he trained for six years in the studio of Thomas Couture and studied the Old Masters, especially Velázquez, Titian and Hals. His Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe caused a scandal at the Salon des Refusés in 1863, and Olympia provoked another at the Salon of 1865. Manet painted modern life with bold contrasts, flattened space and visible brushwork, and younger artists such as Monet, Renoir and Degas regarded him as a leader. Yet he never exhibited in the Impressionist exhibitions, continuing to seek recognition at the official Salon. His late masterpiece, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, was shown in 1882, a year before his death.
Highlights in this room
Jesus Mocked by the Soldiers
Manet showed this painting at the Salon of 1865, the same year as Olympia. Christ sits pale and exposed while soldiers crowd around him, painted with a directness that drew criticism at the time. The work reveals his serious engagement with the religious painting of the Spanish and Italian masters.
Beggar with Oysters (Philosopher)
After his trip to Madrid in 1865, Manet painted life-size figures of beggars inspired by Velázquez's portraits of ancient philosophers as ragged, everyday men. The figure stands against an empty, neutral background, with a few oyster shells at his feet. It pairs with Beggar with a Duffle Coat (Philosopher), also in this room.
The Races at Longchamp
Horses thunder straight toward the viewer, their legs a blur of quick strokes, while spectators line the rails. Painting a race head-on was unusual, and it gives the scene a startling sense of speed. The loose handling anticipates the Impressionists' way of capturing motion.
Perched upon a Bust of Pallas (illustration for Poe's The Raven)
In 1875 Manet illustrated Stéphane Mallarmé's French translation of Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven. This image shows the bird perched on the bust above the chamber door, drawn with brushy, spontaneous marks in black ink tones. It is a striking example of his work as a printmaker and a record of his friendship with Mallarmé.
How to enjoy the exhibition
- Walk up to a painting to see it closer. Manet's brushwork is quick and visible, and many details that look precise from afar dissolve into single strokes.
- Look for his blacks. Manet used black as a color in its own right, in coats, hats and backgrounds, and it gives his pictures their bold structure.
- Notice the flatness. Figures are often set against plain backgrounds with little modeling, a choice that shocked his contemporaries.
- Click a work to read its label. It helps you follow his range, from still life and seascape to portraits, religious subjects and prints.
- Trace the Spanish influence. Bullfight and the two philosopher paintings show his admiration for Velázquez and Goya.
New to the format? Here is a short guide to what a virtual gallery is. For his circle and his sources, continue to the Degas virtual exhibition, the Monet virtual exhibition and the Goya virtual exhibition.
Create a room like this for your own work
This room was built with Xibit360, and the same tools are open to working artists. You can light and frame each piece, set the mood with themes and layouts, exhibit video works alongside still images, and embed the finished room on your own website so visitors can walk through it without leaving your page. It is free to start, and upgrades are one-time purchases with no subscription.
Know an artist who should see this?
If you know a painter whose work deserves to be seen in a space like this, send them this page. They can walk through the Manet room above to see what is possible, then imagine their own paintings on the walls.
FAQ
Is the Manet virtual exhibition free?
Yes. You can open it in your browser for free.
Can I view it on my phone?
Yes. The same walkable space opens on desktop and on phone, with no app to install.
Was Manet an Impressionist?
Manet is closely linked to Impressionism and inspired its painters, but he never took part in the Impressionist exhibitions. He is usually seen as the bridge between Realism and Impressionism, and one of the first truly modern painters.