WESTLAKE, TEXAS.- The Jules Breton Foundation is pleased to announce the release of Jules Breton, Catalogue Raisonné des Peintures by Annette Bourrut Lacouture—art historian, member of the Société de l’histoire de l’art français and The Association of Historians of Nineteenth Century Art, and a globally recognized authority on the artist.

Jules Breton (1827–1906) stands as a defining figure of 19th-century painting, whose work navigates the boundaries between academicism and naturalism. Deeply committed to depicting peasant life with both realist precision and poetic sensitivity, Breton's art reflects an acute awareness of the social transformations of his era. Influenced by the Barbizon school and shaped by the realism of Millet and Courbet, he celebrated the dignity of rural laborers through his work.

The Catalogue Raisonné documents more than 780 of Breton’s paintings, most of which are reproduced in color. It represents the culmination of fifty years of meticulous research by Annette Bourrut Lacouture. Drawing on previously unpublished archives held by the artist’s descendants, the volume offers rigorous and indispensable documentation. It highlights Salon masterpieces as well as preparatory sketches, offering a comprehensive and intimate portrait of the artist’s life and creative practice.

Each entry includes an in-depth description, biographical information on the sitter, provenance, exhibition history, and bibliography. The publication also features numerous previously unpublished color reproductions, as well as an extensive bibliography.

Accompanying the catalogue are several scholarly contributions: an illustrated biography and an introductory essay by Annette Bourrut Lacouture, the world leading expert on Jules Breton, exploring the historical and artistic context of the period; a foreword by Eric Weider, Owner of Gallery 19C and Founder of the Jules Breton Foundation; and a preface by Agnès Penot, PhD in Art History and art market specialist, discussing Jules Breton and the art market. The book also includes a detailed methodological essay by art historian Marie-Isabelle Pinet.

Since January 2025, the Catalogue Raisonné has also been available online at julesbreton.com. While the access policy is still being finalized, art professionals will be granted free access. Regularly updated to reflect ongoing research and newly discovered works, the digital Catalogue Raisonné is intended to serve as a lasting resource for future generations of scholars and researchers. Since its release, it has offered robust research tools—including advanced search functions, high-resolution image viewing, and cross-referencing capabilities—to ensure broad accessibility. With regular updates reflecting ongoing scholarship and newly discovered works, the digital Catalogue Raisonné is designed to remain a vital resource for future generations of researchers.

The printed catalogue may be purchased at Amazon.fr and https://www.lireka.com/en
or by emailing info@gallery19c.com