The Crystal Palace by Camille Pissarro

Camille Pissarro painted The Crystal Palace in 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent uprising of the Paris Commune, when Claude Monet and Pissarro took refuge in London. Pissarro painted more than a dozen pictures during his residence, focusing on the modern-life scenes that the civil disturbance at home would have made impossible. In The Crystal Palace, Camille Pissarro painted the famous exhibition building -- all made of glass -- in translucent shades of gray that emphasize the tonal subtlety of the low-lying clouds in the sky.

The Crystal Palace by Camille Pissarro (oil on canvas, 18-5/8x28-7/8inches) is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Camille Pissarro was known for his plein air painting. Next, we'll look at a good example of this style.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet