TOULMOUCHE, Auguste

French painter. Toulmouche was a successful genre painter who briefly mentored the young Monet. He exhibited his work at the Salon from 1848 onwards, receiving numerous accolades, including a silver medal at the Salon of 1861 and a bronze medal at the 1878 Universal Exposition. In 1870 he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

Married to a cousin of Monet’s Aunt Lecadre, Toulmouche accepted Monet in his atelier in 1862. In the same year he encouraged Monet to enter the studio of the Swiss history painter Charles Gleyre, under whom he had also studied. Along with others of Gleyre’s students, Toulmouche was briefly associated with the classicising néo-grec style, led by Jean-Léon Gérôme.

Although he also produced portraits and landscapes, he is primarily known for his intimate interior scenes of domestic life. His paintings exhibit the polished, academic style typical of Gleyre and his followers.

He was one of the first artists to paint scenes inspired by the Bourgeoisie life during the Second Empire. He was particularly devoted to the painting of scenes of genre, urban life interiors and feminine portraits, which made him famous. Toulmouche was very successful during the Second Empire, particularly thanks to his canvas depicting young elegant women from the bourgeoisie.