1848 – Birth in Paris in
the Faubourg St Denis (10th arrdt), of Gustave son of Martial
Caillebotte and his third wife Céleste Daufresne. Martial is a well-to-do manufacturer of iron beds and blankets for
the French army. An older brother, Alfred,
born of an earlier marriage will be ordained priest in 1858.
1851 – Birth of René
Caillebotte.
1853 – Birth of Martial
Caillebotte.
1858 – Gustave attends the
lycée Louis le Grand.
1860 – His father buys a
large estate and summer home in Yerres south of Paris.
1866 – Caillebotte père
buys a plot at the corner of rues de Lisbonne and Miromesnil in the 8th arrdt where he
builds a three storey hôtel particulier.
1867 – The family moves to
77 rue de Miromesnil.
1868 – Gustave obtains his
first law degree. His father pays for a replacement for his son’s military
service so that he can continue his studies.
1870 – Gustave receives his
final law degree (licence). In the
1870’s Martial will study the piano at the Paris conservatory.
1872 – Gustave travels in
Italy with his father and visits his friend the painter Giuseppe de Nittis.
1873 – Gustave is admitted to the Ecole des Beaux Arts where he will
briefly study under Cabanel, Gérôme, Pils and Yvon.
1874 – First Impressionist
exhibition in the studios of the photographer Félix Nadar. An extra floor is
added to the Caillebotte mansion to accommodate a studio for Gustave. Death of
Caillebotte père.
1875 – “The Floor scrapers”
rejected by the Salon. Gustave is introduced into the modern art circles of
Paris by de Nittis who is friends with Degas and the Realist painter Léon
Bonnat.
1876 – Caillebotte buys several canvases from Monet. They will become very
close friends and Caillebotte will continue buying his works and support him
financially for the rest of his life. He will also purchase paintings by Renoir
and Pissarro. Caillebotte exhibits 8 works in the 2nd Impressionist exhibition held in the gallery of the
art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel. Sudden death at 26 of Gustave’s younger brother
René. This leads Gustave to dictate his first will leaving a sum of money for the organization of future
Impressionist exhibitions and leaving
his collection to the French state.
1877 – Caillebotte rents an
apartment on rue Le Peletier (9th arrdt) for the 3rd
Impressionist exhibition. He exhibits 15 works including “Pont de l’Europe” and “Paris
Street, Rainy Day”. He begins what will become a very important stamp
collection with his brother Martial and is also introduced to yachting.
1878 – Two of Martial’s
musical compositions are performed at the salle Pleyel. Death of Céleste
Caillebotte at the age of 58. The
inheritance from both parents means the brothers are assured a comfortable
income for the rest of their lives.
1879 – The two brothers
move to 77 boulevard Haussmann and sell the Yerres property. Caillebotte
organizes the 4th Impressionist exhibition in a locale at 28 avenue
de l’Opéra. He exhibits 25 works mostly painted in Yerres.
1880 – Both brothers are
members of the Paris Sailing Club,
Gustave made vice president. They participate in several regattas in Argenteuil
and on the Normandy coast. Gustave shows 11 works in the 5th
Impressionist exhibition held at 10 rue de Pyramides.
1881 – Gustave does not
participate in 6th Impressionist exhibition as dissensions grow
within the group. The brothers buy a property on the Seine at Petit Genevilliers near Argenteuil and
its sailing club.
1882 – Gustave shows 17
works in the 7th Impressionist exhibition. Designs his first sailing
boat, Jack. Paints in Trouville in
the summer.
1883 – Martial composes an
oratorio and an opera. Gustave’s painting praised in article by Realist critic
and writer J.K. Huysmans. Gustave writes a second will confirming his previous
dispositions, adding an annuity for his young mistress Charlotte Berthier and
releasing Renoir from any debts.
1884 – Gustave buys several
works at the posthumous Manet sale at the hôtel Drouot including “The Balcony”.
1885 – Birth of Renoir’s
first son, Pierre, Gustave is the godfather.
1886 – Gustave shows
10 works in first impressionist exhibition organized by Durand-Ruel in New York.
Does not show at 8th and last Impressionist exhibition mostly
devoted to Pointilism.
1887 – Martial publishes a
mass dedicated to his half brother Alfred. Gustave buys his brother’s share or
the Petit Genevilliers property and adds to the grounds. Martial marries Marie Minoret in Paris. The marriage ceremony is
conducted by Alfred.
1888 – Gustave makes Petit
Genevilliers his principal residence. He is elected in town council and
actively participates in local politics.
Shows 5 pictures at the XX exhibition in Brussels. Birth of Martial’s
son, Jean.
1890 – Birth of Martial’s
daughter, Geneviève.
1891 – Gustave
continues going to Paris for regular Impressionist dinners at the Café Riche.
1892 – He is witness to
Monet’s wedding to his second wife, Alice.
1894 – Gustave dies of a brain aneurysm at Petit Genevilliers at the age
of 45. His funeral mass is conducted by Alfred and he is buried at the Père
Lachaise cemetery. His will executor, Renoir and Martial inform the director of
Fine Arts Henry Roujon of the bequest to
the French state of 60 works. Retrospective exhibition of 122 works at
Durand-Ruel’s.
1896 – After many hesitations
and delays the state accepts to exhibit 40 paintings at the Musée du Luxembourg.
1910 – Death of Martial
Caillebotte.