The Bird Catcher

late 1840s – 1850s

Commissions for murals from the state and the Church

His innovative technique draws much attention, and from the late 1840s through the 1850s Couture receives government and church commissions for murals. He never completed the first two, and the third met with mixed criticism.

1855

The 1855 World’s Fair: “The Falconer” misses the top award

At the 1855 World’s Fair Couture shows the picture “The Falconer”, but it does not win the highest award, which he regards as a major setback. As a result he renounces the first-class medal awarded to him for this picture and for “The Romans of the Decadence”.

1855

A major quarrel with Manet over his new work

In 1855 a major conflict breaks out between Couture and Manet over the young artist’s new work: Couture declares that if Manet claims to lead an art school, he should found it somewhere else. Their disagreements arose over other matters too: in the heat of one quarrel Manet packed his things and abandoned his studies, but returned at his father’s insistence.

after 1858

The final break with Manet over “The Absinthe Drinker”

Manet invites Couture to his home, where Couture declares himself outraged by the “drunkard” and by the “vileness” the artist has created. The cause is Manet’s “The Absinthe Drinker” (1858–1859); after that, teacher and pupil never meet again.