The Last Evening
James Tissot·1873
Historical Context
The Last Evening (1873) by James Tissot, now in the collection of Guildhall Art Gallery, exploits the dramatic lighting conditions of a specific time of day, a subject that became increasingly central to Impressionist and Tonalist painters' investigation of atmospheric light. James Tissot occupied a unique position between French and English painting, working in Paris during the Second Empire and then in London after the Commune, where he became enormously successful depicting the fashionable social life of the Victorian leisured class.
Technical Analysis
Tissot painted with meticulous, virtuoso precision, rendering the textures of fabric, lace, and surface detail with the accuracy of a luxury fashion illustrator. His palette is rich and warm — deep crimsons, ivory whites.
