Pierre Auguste Cot

Pierre Auguste Cot (1837-1883) was a French academic painter who specialized in portraits, genre scenes, and historical subjects. Born in Bédarieux, France, Cot studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was a student of William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Cot's early works were influenced by Bouguereau's academic style, characterized by idealized, classically-inspired figures and polished technique. Cot gained recognition for his painting "The Storm," which was exhibited at the Salon of 1880. The painting depicts a young couple embracing in a storm, symbolizing the tumultuous nature of romantic love. It became one of the most famous works of the time and established Cot as a leading artist of the academic style.Cot's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1883 at the age of 46, but his legacy lived on through his numerous students and followers. His works are now housed in museums and private collections around the world.