Francois
Clouet

Francois was the son of the artist Jean Clouet. Like his father, bore the nickname "Jean". Jr. Worked primarily in Paris.

C 1540 court painter of Francis I and his successors, oversaw a large workshop. Removed the death mask.

His work is marked by only a few references in the documents: in 1552 he was decorated with monograms and crescents of the chest, made by Sibeam de Carpi; in 1568 he was in the service of Claude Guffie and his wife, Claude de Beaune; in 1570-1572 he was paid for work on two banners for the trumpets of the king and armor. In 1572 he executed a miniature portrait of the Spanish Queen. Finally, the last time his name is mentioned as a consultant on the coins.

A French artist.

The son of Jean Clouet, which in 1541, he inherited the title of painter to the king, Francois Clouet became famous during the reign of four French kings. In his oeuvre is dominated by portraits, but at the same time he acted as court painter in 1547 and 1559, during the Royal funeral, he removed the death mask of Francis, Dauphin and king Henry II. Together with sculptor Marc Bessho, and other artists he arranged the funeral, consecration, coronation "masquerades, tournaments and other fun". However, his work is marked by only a few references in the documents: in 1552 he adorned with monograms and crescents of the chest, made by Sibeam de Carpi; in 1568 he was in the service of Claude Guffie and his wife, Claude de Beaune; in 1570-1572 he was paid for work on two banners for the trumpets of the king and armor. In 1572 he takes the miniature portrait of the Spanish Queen (probably of Elisabeth of Austria). Finally, the last time his name is mentioned as a consultant on the coins. Clouet, was highly praised by Queen Catherine de Medici, who collected his drawings (551 figure she gave her granddaughter Chretien Lorraine; most of the current is stored in the Chantilly, musée condé). The art of Clouet were sung by poets, in particular, Rosatom, who described the lost piece with a naked lover of the artist; thanks to this, mention can be attributed to Clouet oil paintings in NAT. Gal. in Washington, DC. Francois Clouet is often confused with his father, Jean Clouet, aided by the nickname of "Jean" which they both had.

We know of only two signature paintings by Clouet: portrait of his friend and neighbor pharmacist Pierre K. ut (1562, Paris, Louvre) and "Bathing woman" (Washington, NAT. Gal.). On the basis of portrait drawing of Charles IX, which is the date 1566 (Saint-Petersburg, GOS. The Hermitage), and is attributed to Clouet portrait of Charles IX (Vienna Museum of art history), as well as a series of drawings (Chantilly, musée condé, Paris, NAT. library). They close and some of the paintings (portrait of Henry II in growth, Florence, Uffizi) and a shiny replica, performed by his assistants. Contemporaries believed Francois Clouet and a great master of portrait miniatures, he is credited with "Equestrian portrait of Francis 1" (Paris, Louvre) and "Equestrian portrait of Henri II" (Florence, Uffizi); however, often these portraits connected with the name of Jean Clouet.

As is well documented, and the painting "Bathing woman", Francois Clouet, unlike his father, was not only a portraitist. He probably sang "bathing Diana" (Rouen, musée des Beaux-arts), whose importance is confirmed by numerous replicas. Clouet, has also created several genre scenes - "a scene from the Comedy" ("the Imaginary invalid") and "Children, complaining to Cupid" engraved (under the name Jean) and published by Leblon. To this group belongs the song "Beauty", is known for the numerous repetitions (France, private collection; Lugano, collection Thyssen-Bornemisza). The influence of Clouet evident in several works by unknown masters ("Sabine, Poppea", Geneva, musée Rath, and "Bathing women", Paris, Louvre).

Pupil of his father, Francois Clouet, of course, worked with him early in his career. H sterling found traces of this cooperation in the portrait of Francis 1 (Paris, Louvre), which is traditionally attributed to Jean Clouet; in the opinion of the researcher, françois played the king's hands. Soon, the young artist created an art more subtle and more complex than the painting of his father; it is the art of combining different influences - Italian, Dutch and German. His portraits are a wonderful example of refined court art in France of the XVI century ("Portrait of Elisabeth of Austria", Paris, Louvre).

Drawings by Francois Clouet also not as simple as the drawings of his father; they are more complicated in technique, subtly describe the model, emphasizing the expression of the face ("Portrait of Margaret French in childhood", Chantilly, musée condé). The influence of paintings by Clouet in France and abroad was huge, especially in the field of portrait and genre scenes. He led a workshop in which the artists worked, now almost unknown (Jacques licence, the son of John Patten, officer Jean Clouet and Simon Roy).