About Jean-François Millet
Jean-François Millet was a painter of peasant life and a member of the group of artists who worked in the village of Barbizon near the forest of Fontainebleau. He showed farm workers with a dignity and seriousness usually given to heroes.
Born into a farming family in Normandy in 1814, he trained in Cherbourg and Paris, settled in Barbizon in 1849 and spent most of the rest of his life there, painting the fields, shepherds and laborers around the village.
The Gleaners and The Angelus, both at the Musée d'Orsay, became two of the most reproduced images of the nineteenth century, and Van Gogh copied Millet's work many times.
Where to see Jean-François Millet's famous paintings
| Painting | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| The Gleaners | 1857 | Musée d'Orsay, Paris |
| The Angelus | 1857 to 1859 | Musée d'Orsay, Paris |
How big are they?
The paintings drawn to scale next to a person 1.7 m tall.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous paintings by Jean-François Millet?
The Gleaners, The Angelus.
Where can I see paintings by Jean-François Millet?
The Gleaners at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris; The Angelus at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
When did Jean-François Millet live?
Jean-François Millet was born in 1814 and died in 1875.
Sources: Wikidata Q148458. Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.