Millet: Life on the Land

This publication reintroduces the artist Jean-François Millet to a contemporary audience while considering his profound influence on British painting.

One of the most famous artists of the late nineteenth century, Millet has not been the subject of a publication in the UK since the 1970s. Accompanying a focused exhibition at the National Gallery, this book examines important aspects of his work, including his artistic practice, his use of models, his method of painting from memory and depictions of women at work on the land are also discussed, particularly their tasks in relation to those of male labourers.

A following text considers Millet’s most celebrated painting, The Angelus, the critical response to it in France and its legacy. The final essay concentrates on Millet in Britain, exploring his popularity among collectors in the late nineteenth century, and his relationships with them and other artists. 

Published by National Gallery Global/Distributed by Yale University Press

The National Gallery, London
7 August – 19 October 2025