Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 11 works by Pierre Auguste Cot in our catalogue
In short
Springtime (1873) is the Pierre Auguste Cot painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. After it, the eye goes to Springtime and Dionysia (1870). Among the 11 works of Pierre Auguste Cot in our catalog, these 11 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The Artist: Pierre Auguste Cot Pierre Auguste Cot (1837-1883) was a French artist known for his romantic and sentimental paintings. Born in Bédarieux, France, Cot studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under the guidance of renowned artists such as William Bouguereau and Alexandre Cabanel. The Painting: Springtime (1873) Springtime, painted by Cot in 1873, is a masterpiece of romanticism that depicts a young couple locked in an embrace…
Springtime is an oil on canvas created by Pierre Auguste Cot in 1873. The work captures a man and a woman suspended in a moment of quiet intimacy. They sit upon a swing, held by ropes amidst the dense greenery of an enchanted forest. Sunlight filters through the canopy, touching the leaves and the birds that inhabit the trees. It is a scene of rebirth and the soft weight of…
A young woman emerges from the shadows of a dense, verdant forest, her presence acting as a soft spotlight amidst the deep browns and muted greens of the woodland. She moves with a quiet grace, her arms extended toward a lush bouquet of blossoms that seems to overflow from her grasp. The light catches the porcelain smoothness of her skin and the delicate, airy folds of her silk shawl, pulling…
We are looking at Mireille, a work painted by Pierre Auguste Cot around 1882. This piece reflects the quiet, disciplined approach of a painter deeply rooted in the French tradition. Cot was a French painter who achieved significant recognition within the Academic Classicism school, a movement defined by its commitment to precise draftsmanship and the idealized beauty of its subjects.
Portrait de Madame Gervais by Pierre Auguste Cot, created about 1863, presents a single female figure in a three-quarter length portrait. The subject is seated and positioned slightly off-center within the frame. She maintains a composed posture and a direct gaze toward the viewer. The composition relies on a palette dominated by deep, somber tones that establish a quiet atmosphere.
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Pierre Auguste Cot | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 2 | Springtime (1873), The storm |
 Musée Fabre |
Montpellier | 2 | Mireille, Portrait de Madame Gervais |
 Chimei Museum |
Tainan | 1 | Dionysia |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
Portrait de Madame Gervais by Pierre Auguste Cot, created about 1863, presents a single female figure in a three-quarter length portrait. The subject is seated and positioned slightly off-center within the frame. She maintains a composed posture and a direct gaze toward the viewer. The composition relies on a palette dominated by deep, somber tones that establish a quiet atmosphere.
A young woman emerges from the shadows of a dense, verdant forest, her presence acting as a soft spotlight amidst the deep browns and muted greens of the woodland. She moves with a quiet grace, her arms extended toward a lush bouquet of blossoms that seems to overflow from her grasp. The light catches the porcelain smoothness of her skin and the delicate, airy folds of her silk shawl, pulling…
We are looking at Mireille, a work painted by Pierre Auguste Cot around 1882. This piece reflects the quiet, disciplined approach of a painter deeply rooted in the French tradition. Cot was a French painter who achieved significant recognition within the Academic Classicism school, a movement defined by its commitment to precise draftsmanship and the idealized beauty of its subjects.
Springtime (1873), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Springtime and Dionysia (1870) come next.
Springtime (1873), Springtime, Dionysia, Mireille, Portrait de Madame Gervais, Little lord fauntelroy, Ophelia, Pisan Girl with Basket of Oranges and Lemons, La bohemienne and The storm (1880). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 11 works by Pierre Auguste Cot, dated from 1863 to 1882.
Mostly in Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Musée Fabre (Montpellier) and Chimei Museum (Tainan). The museum table above lists them all.
On this page, the earliest is Portrait de Madame Gervais (1863) and the latest Mireille (1882).
Woman (4), Trees (2) and Forest (2), across the 11 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 4 of the 11 works on this page.
Springtime (1873) and The storm: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York holds 2 of the works on this page.
Pierre Auguste Cot (1837-1883) was a French painter celebrated for his contributions to the Academic Classicism school. His works are characterized by romantic, idealized depictions of figures and scenes, often drawing inspiration from mythology and literary themes.
Born in Bédarieux, Hérault, France, Cot’s artistic journey began with studies at l'École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse. He later pursued further training in Paris, where he apprenticed under several prominent artists of the time.
Cot’s style reflects a strong adherence to academic principles, emphasizing precise draftsmanship, realistic representation, and idealized beauty. Bouguereau, in particular, exerted a considerable influence on Cot's technique and subject matter.
Cot achieved recognition for his debut at the Salon of 1863, but his popularity truly blossomed in the 1870s. Several works cemented his reputation as a skilled and sought-after artist.
Cot benefited from the patronage of influential figures like Francisque Duret, an academic sculptor whom he later married through his daughter Gabrielle. Bouguereau also supported Cot’s career, even painting a portrait of Gabrielle.
Despite his relatively short life – he died in Paris at the age of 46 and is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery – Pierre Auguste Cot left behind a body of work that continues to captivate audiences today.
Cot’s work serves as a testament to the enduring power of traditional techniques and romantic themes in art history.
