Gustave Caillebotte

Gustave Caillebotte was a French painter and an important member of the Impressionist circle, though his style was often sharper and more realistic than that of his friends. Born into a wealthy Paris family in 1848, he is best known for a striking scene of Parisians strolling under umbrellas on a rainy day, painted with crisp detail and a bold, modern sense of space.

Because of his wealth, he also became a key supporter of the movement, buying works from friends like Monet and Renoir and helping fund their exhibitions. He later left his important collection to the French state. Long seen mainly as a patron, Caillebotte is now recognized as a fine painter in his own right, with a fresh, distinctive eye for modern city life.