Alfred Sisley French, 1839-1899

Alfred Sisley is renowned for creating the atmospheric and inviting landscapes that typify the Impressionist movement. Born in Paris to British parents, Sisley remained in France for most of his life, working closely with fellow Impressionists Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. He preferred to paint outdoors rather than in the studio, the plain air method enabling him to more directly observe and transcribe the natural light of the French countryside.

Sisley visited the UK several times between 1880 and 1900, where he painted scenes of the British coastline, an interesting subject choice given that he rarely if ever produced seascapes while in France. While some place Sisley in a tradition of British landscapists following John Constable and J.M.W. Turner, his limited time spent in the UK makes these artists’ influence on his work uncertain (via Artsy).