Portrait of Jean-Léon Gérôme in his studio by Dornac (fl.1890-1910)
Archives Larousse, Paris, France. Giraudon. Bridgeman Art Library
Date |
Life |
Times |
| 1882 | • It is likely that Rousseau begins to paint during his late thirties or early forties. He is self-taught but claims that he receives advice from popular painters from the Academy, such as Jean-Léon Gérôme, whom he greatly admired. | 
Portrait of Jean-Léon Gérôme in his studio by Dornac (fl.1890-1910) Archives Larousse, Paris, France. Giraudon. Bridgeman Art Library  enlarge |
| 1883 | ||
| 1884 | • Rousseau meets the painter Félix Clément and perhaps with Clément's help, obtains a permit to copy works of art at the Louvre.
• He makes his debut and is rejected by the official Salon, showing his work instead with the 'Groupe des Indépendants'. |
• First Salon des Indépendants, a jury-free Salon in which independent artists showed their work.
Permit for copying in state-run museums granted to Rousseau, 1884 DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag GmbH & Co KG enlarge |
| 1885 | • Rousseau probably sees exhibition of Eugène Delacroix's work in Paris.
• He had a deep admiration for the painter's work and often used Delacroix's animals as models for his own paintings. |
Eugène Delacroix Tiger and Lion 1828-9 Národní galerie v Praze, Czech Republic. Giraudon. Bridgeman Art Library enlarge |
| 1886 | • Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London. | |
| 1887 | • Binger's mission from the Niger to Gulf of Guinea begins (ends 1889). | |
| 1888 | • Rousseau's wife, Clémence, dies of tuberculosis. | |
| 1889 | • He visits the 1889 Paris World's Fair and is inspired to write a play on the subject, a light comedy entitled A Visit to the 1889 Exhibition.
• He also paints Myself, Portrait-Landscape in which he features the Eiffel Tower, the famous Paris landmark built for the 1889 Exhibition. |
• Paris World's Fair
Henri Rousseau Myself, Portrait-Landscape 1890 Národní galerie v Praze enlarge |
| 1890 | • The artist Paul Gauguin is reportedly one of the admirers of Myself, Portrait-Landscape, 1890. | 
Photo of Paul Gauguin, 1891 Photo: akg-images enlarge |
| 1891 | • Paints Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!), 1891, which receives positive reviews from the young painter Félix Vallotton. | • First mass-produced petrol car
Henri Rousseau Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) 1891 The National Gallery, London enlarge |
| 1892 | • Rousseau exhibits Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!), 1891 and A Centennial of Independence, 1892 at the Salon des Indépendants, provoking both astonishment and sarcasm. | • Binger's mission to the Ivory Coast. |
| 1893 | • Rousseau retires early from the Octroi in order to paint full time.
• In the same year he enters a competition to decorate the town hall in Bagnolet but is unsuccessful. |
|
| 1894 | • Rousseau's large-scale, ambitious painting, War, 1894 is exhibited.
Henri Rousseau War 1894 Musée d'Orsay, Paris © Photo RMN-Droits réservés enlarge |
• The Ivory Coast, Dahomey and Guinea become French colonies.
• Ministry of Colonies established. |
| 1895 | • First public film projection, by the Lumière brothers, in Paris.
• First metal-framed building constructed in Chicago. |
|
| 1896 | • Rousseau experiences financial problems and runs up debts with a supplier of artist's materials. | • France annexes Madagascar. |
| 1897 | • His son Henri-Anatole dies. | • Spain and America at war over Cuba. |
| 1898 | • Rousseau offers his 1897 painting, The Sleeping Gypsy, to the Mayor of Laval for purchase, seeking official patronage, but is turned down.
• He hires a studio opposite Gauguin's in the rue Vercingétorix. |
• Severe tensions between England and France due to conflicting colonial interests in the Sudan lead to the Fashoda incident. |
| 1899 | • Marries his second wife, Joséphine Noury.
Henri Rousseau Portrait of the Artist’s Second Wife 1900-1903 Musée Picasso, Paris enlarge |
• Dreyfus's retrial begins.
• Second of the Boer War conflicts. • Colonial exhibition in London. |
