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When he was 10 years old, Cézanne attended a
school in Aix before moving to College Bourbon three
years later. It was here that he met Émile Zola, an aspiring
writer who would become his long-time friend. Cézanne
stayed for six years, before attending the Free Municipal
School of Drawing in Aix. He studied under Joseph Gilbert,
a Spanish monk but, in 1858, began his law studies at the
University of Aix, which was what his father expected of
him. During his two years at university Cézanne realized
(Mary Evans Picture Library)
above:
A cartoon of the French novelist Émile Zola, by Théobald Chartran in
Vanity Fair
magazine, 1880.
above:
A portrait by Cézanne of his father, painted in 1866.
that his dream was to be an artist; he had been taking
drawing lessons alongside his law studies. His father was
particularly disappointed and angry when Cézanne
announced that he was leaving for Paris in 1861, however,
Zola’s influence had prevailed and the young artist
left Aix for a new life and what he hoped would be a
blossoming career. He moved to Paris to join Zola, with
whom he spent a great deal of time, and eventually his
father relented and was reconciled with the young rebel.
(PA Photos)
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CÉZANNE