Charles Andre van
Loo

Charles-andré van Loo (FR. Charles-André van Loo, rod. February 15, 1705, nice mind. July 15, 1765, Paris) was a French court painter of the Rococo period, a favorite of the Marquise de Pompadour, "the first painter" at the court of Louis XV.

French painter, by birth a Dutchman. The most famous French painter of the dynasty, vanloo. Father vanloo - Jean Baptiste (1684-1745) and nephew of Louis-Michel(1707-1771) were also painters.

Vanloo, wrote religious and mythological compositions and portraits.

His artistic career began at 14 when he arrived in Paris from Italy, where he lived seven years.

He studied in Rome of Benedetto Luti, 1727-1732 – in the same place in the French Academy.

In 1732-1734 works for the king of Sardinia and churches.

Back in 1735 in Paris becomes a member and makes a brilliant official career.

In 1735 he was awarded the title of academician, and in 1737 he received the title of Professor.

From 1752 he was Professor at the Academy, 1754 - its rector. He was appointed first painter to the king (1762) and the Director of the Academy (from 1763 to the end of life).

Despite the success and a brilliant career, works, vanloo after 1750 criticized for pomposity and hypocrisy. However, in 1771 the well-known connoisseur of painting of D. Diderot advised Catherine II buy paintings, vanloo.

Was one of the main representatives of the "Grand style", the most talented historical painters of the XVIII century, the master of decorative compositions that have become the pride of the French Rococo.

Typical of Rococo art is "Cupid shooting from bow", written by Carl vanloo in 1761. This work uses over two centuries of unrelenting success with the audience, because the arrow of Cupid is always aiming at the heart of the beholder, wherever he looked at the picture.

The first paintings the artist created to religious subjects. Subsequently, the genres in which he worked in were amazingly diverse. Vanloo wrote, costumed and representative portraits, decorative panels, executed the cartoons for the Gobelins manufactory, created works on mythological and religious subjects.

He was one of the first to paint in the genre of costumed scenes on Oriental and exotic themes. The painting "Rest on the hunt" was written by vanloo for dining room in small apartment of the king at Fontainebleau. At this time, the heyday of the artist.

Other famous works: "Spanish reading" (1754 - 1761. Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg), "Spanish concert" (1754. The Hermitage), "the Beautiful gardener" (1750, Morgan Collection, new York).