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| Nicolas de Largillièrre (1656–1746) | ||||||||||
| Born in Paris, Largillière was a French portrait and historical painter. When three years of age, he moved to Antwerp, where his father had settled as a merchant. This marked the beginning of his early travels, which continued when, at the age of nine, he spent twenty months in England. Upon his return to Antwerp, he became a pupil of Antoine Goubeau and assisted him by painting the still-life elements in his works. Around 1675, Largillière returned to England, where he worked in the royal palaces under Sir Peter Lely. It was here that he caught the attention of Charles II, painting portraits of the king and several of the nobility. After four years in England, he settled in Paris, quickly gaining a large following among the bourgeoisie and professional classes. He formed close relationships with Van der Meulen and Le Brun, the latter being a key supporter. During the reign of James II, he paid another brief visit to England, where he painted portraits of the king, Mary of Modena, and the infant Prince of Wales. In 1686, he was accepted into the French Academy as a historical painter with his portrait of Le Brun. Though he is now chiefly remembered as a portrait painter, often referred to as the French Van Dyck, in his time he was also highly regarded as a historical artist. Following the deaths of Le Brun and Mignard, Largillière took a leading role in the French school of historical painting, though he never sought royal or aristocratic patronage. Over the years, he held all the prestigious positions within the Academy and died in Paris after suffering a paralysis. Among his pupils, the most prominent was Oudry, the animal painter, to whom he took a great personal interest. | ||||||||||
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Art