Brief Biography-Paul Cezanne was from Aix-en-Provence near Marseilles. His father was the proprietor of the town’s only bank; he was initially a successful hat seller. In 1839, Paul attended a boarding school where he met his good friend Emile Zola the future author. They later fell out over Zola’s novel, depicting a failed artist not dissimilar to Cezanne. He took drawing lessons at the local Academy but was restricted in his art studies as his overbearing father disliked art. He forced him to study law; however, in 1861, his family reluctantly allowed him to go to Paris on an allowance.
At first, he despaired over his work, tearing up paintings and returned home to work in his father’s bank. In 1862, he made another attempt to succeed in Paris but endured constant rejection. He disliked notable artists of the time and was famously rude to Manet on one occasion by refusing to shake his hand. He was regarded as eccentric by most who knew him; however, some artists, including Renoir, recognized his talent.
In 1869, he met Hortense Fiquet, and their subsequent relationship lifted his spirits considerably. Paul moved in 1870 to a village near Marseille to escape conscription for the war with Prussia and there concentrated on doing landscapes. In 1872, Hortense had his son, but Paul kept it secret from his family as he was afraid of his father. He later moved near Paris, where he became closely associated with Pissarro, they worked together, and Pissarro introduced him to styles of impressionism.
Nevertheless, he was unsuccessful primarily with art for most of his life. It was in 1895 that the art dealer Ambroise Vollard took an interest in his work and arranged a show in Paris; Ambroise bought all his paintings two years later. He moved to Aix in 1889 and built a studio on a nearby hill. In 1906 on his journey to his studio, he was caught in bad weather and collapsed, and he died of pneumonia the following week.