His first job was as a painter in the Sevres porcelain works. Theophile Gautier was the first to spot his pungent style in Tobias and the Angel, exhibited at the Salon in 1841; there followed landscapes such as Vue prise aux Environs de Vannes (1839) and Vallee de Chevreuse (1846). He became aware of his aptitude for animal painting after a visit to Holland in 1847: Boeufs se rendant au Labour (1855, Louvre), Retour a la Ferme (1859, Louvre), La Barriere and La Provende des Poules (Louvre) are remarkable for their subtle light effects. Honfleur appealed to his romantic nature. Overworked, he enlisted the help of Boudin towards 1861. Jongkind was much attracted to Troyon's work; Troyon also gave advice to Monet.

Post-Impressionism, Michel-Claude Jalard, Edito Service SA, Geneva