-
@ Classical Educator
2025-02-25 01:09:56
Charles Le Brun, born on February 24, 1619, in Paris, was a prominent French painter, art theorist, and influential figure in 17th-century French art. https://m.primal.net/PKGT.png
As a child prodigy, Le Brun caught the attention of Chancellor Séguier, who placed him in Simon Vouet's studio at the age of eleven. https://m.primal.net/NZHT.png
By fifteen, he was already receiving commissions from Cardinal Richelieu. https://m.primal.net/PKGV.png
In 1642, Le Brun traveled to Rome with Nicolas Poussin, where he spent four years studying ancient Roman sculpture, copying Raphael, and absorbing local artistic influences. https://m.primal.net/PKGa.png
Upon his return to Paris in 1646, he quickly gained numerous patrons, including Nicholas Fouquet. https://m.primal.net/PKGb.png
Le Brun's artistic prowess earned him the title of "Premier Peintre du Roi" (First Painter of the King) in 1662, along with a noble title and a substantial pension. His style blended Baroque coloring with Classical drawing techniques, and he believed that painting should appeal to the intellect rather than merely the eye. https://m.primal.net/NZHl.png
As the dominant artist during Louis XIV's reign, Le Brun was responsible for numerous significant works. He created decorations for the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre, and most notably, the Palace of Versailles. https://m.primal.net/PKGe.png
At Versailles, he designed the Ambassadors' Staircase, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Peace and War Rooms, among others. https://m.primal.net/PKGj.png
Le Brun played a crucial role in establishing and shaping the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1648. https://m.primal.net/PKGl.png
As the Academy's director, he laid the foundation for French academic art and became the all-powerful master of 17th-century French artistic production. He also helped found the French Academy in Rome in 1666, further expanding France's artistic influence. https://m.primal.net/PKGo.png
In 1663, Le Brun became the director of the Gobelins Manufactory, overseeing the creation of royal furniture, tapestries, and other decorative arts. His influence extended beyond painting to architecture, garden design, and sculpture. https://m.primal.net/PKGr.png
Le Brun's legacy includes his treatise on physiognomy, "How to Paint Emotions," published posthumously in 1698, which remained a standard textbook for art colleges until the mid-19th century. https://m.primal.net/PKHB.png
Although his reputation declined after his death, a major exhibition of his works at Versailles in 1963 led to a positive reappraisal of his contributions to French art. https://m.primal.net/PKHF.png
Charles Le Brun died on February 12, 1690, leaving behind a vast body of work and influence on French art history. https://m.primal.net/PKHH.png
These "on this day" posts are inspired by my love of the greatest minds of the Western canon. It is in this spirit that I post these tidbits for the Bitcoin community as a way to bring beauty and knowledge to the world. https://m.primal.net/LIwG.jpg