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Antoine Watteau

Paintings

Pilgrimage On The Isle Of Cythera Print by Antoine Watteau

Pilgrimage on the Isle of Cythera

Les Plaisirs Du Bal Print by Antoine Watteau

Les Plaisirs du Bal

The Rest Print by Antoine Watteau

The Rest

Pleasures Of Love Print by Antoine Watteau

Pleasures of Love

Mezzetin Print by Antoine Watteau

Mezzetin

Pierrot Content Print by Antoine Watteau

Pierrot Content

The Country Dance Print by Antoine Watteau

The Country Dance

Viosseu Or Chinese Musician Print by Antoine Watteau

Viosseu or Chinese Musician

Chinese Woman Of Kouei Tcheou Print by Antoine Watteau

Chinese Woman of Kouei Tcheou

The Italian Comedians Print by Antoine Watteau

The Italian Comedians

Soldiers On The March Print by Antoine Watteau

Soldiers on the March

Cupid's Realm Print by Antoine Watteau

Cupid's Realm

Reclining Nude Print by Antoine Watteau

Reclining Nude

The Judgment Of Paris Print by Antoine Watteau

The Judgment of Paris

Two Cousins Print by Antoine Watteau

Two Cousins

Polish Woman Print by Antoine Watteau

Polish Woman

The French Comedians Print by Antoine Watteau

The French Comedians

The Love Lesson Print by Antoine Watteau

The Love Lesson

Happy Age. Golden Age Print by Antoine Watteau

Happy Age. Golden Age

Fountain Nymph Print by Antoine Watteau

Fountain Nymph

Antoine Watteau

The Scale of Love

Antoine Watteau

The ball pleasure (Les Plaisirs du bal)

Antoine Watteau

The bivouac

Antoine Watteau

The Love Fest

Antoine Watteau

The Marmot, The minstrel and the marmot

Antoine Watteau

The Judgment of Paris

Antoine Watteau

The gallant Harlequin

Antoine Watteau

The Indifferent

Antoine Watteau

The happy event

Antoine Watteau

The hunter of the nest

Antoine Watteau

The Dance

Antoine Watteau

The Embarrassing Proposition

Antoine Watteau

The pastime of Italian comedians

Antoine Watteau

The Adventurer

Antoine Watteau

The view

Antoine Watteau

The Champs Élyssées

Antoine Watteau

The family of Mezzetin

Antoine Watteau

The French comedy , detail

Antoine Watteau

The Italian Comedy

Antoine Watteau

The Shepherd ( Fêtes Gallant )

Antoine Watteau

The Pouting

Antoine Watteau

The Serenate

Antoine Watteau

The sculpture , Tondo

Antoine Watteau

The meeting in the park

Antoine Watteau

Embarkation for Cythera

Antoine Watteau

Embarkation for Cythera

Antoine Watteau

Festival in the Park

Antoine Watteau

Fêtes gallant

Antoine Watteau

French comedians

Antoine Watteau

Gersaints shop sign

Antoine Watteau

Folksy outdoor entertainment

Antoine Watteau

Gilles

Antoine Watteau

Italian comedians

Antoine Watteau

Jupiter and Antiope

Antoine Watteau

La " toilet " , Oval

Antoine Watteau

L' Enchanteur

Antoine Watteau

La Gamme d' Amour

Antoine Watteau

La Leçon d' Amour

Antoine Watteau

Les Charmes de la vie

Antoine Watteau

Masquerade ( The return of the ball )

Antoine Watteau

Mezzetin

Antoine Watteau

Meeting for hunting ( Rendez-vous de chasse )

Antoine Watteau

Venetian festivals ( Fêtes venitiennes )

Antoine Watteau

Outdoor pleasure

Drawings

Seated Young Woman Print by Antoine Watteau

Seated Young Woman

The Old Savoyard Print by Antoine Watteau

The Old Savoyard

Two Figure Studies Of A Young Woman, Print by Antoine Watteau

Two Figure Studies of a Young Woman,

Diana Bathing Print by Antoine Watteau

Diana Bathing

Study Of A Standing Dancer With An Outstretched Arm Print by Antoine Watteau

Study of a Standing Dancer with an Outstretched Arm

Studies Of A Woman Wearing A Cap Print by Antoine Watteau

Studies of a Woman Wearing a Cap

Seated Woman Print by Antoine Watteau

Seated Woman

Study Of Woman's Head Print by Antoine Watteau

Study of Woman's Head

Head Of A Man Print by Antoine Watteau

Head of a Man

Two Studies Of A Violinist Tuning His Instrument Print by Antoine Watteau

Two Studies of a Violinist Tuning His Instrument

A Man Reclining And A Woman Seated On The Ground Print by Antoine Watteau

A Man Reclining and a Woman Seated on the Ground

Seated Woman Looking Down Print by Antoine Watteau

Seated Woman Looking Down

Seated Woman Holding A Fan Print by Antoine Watteau

Seated Woman Holding a Fan

Antoine Watteau

Allegory of Spring

Antoine Watteau

Ariadne , Bacchus and Venus

Antoine Watteau

Sitting on a chair child

Antoine Watteau

Bacchante lying on the floor

Antoine Watteau

Bacchus

Antoine Watteau

Bath of Diana

Antoine Watteau

Bearded Persian , standing

Antoine Watteau

Bearded Savoyard , standing

Bust of a woman and study of her hands

Antoine Watteau

The remedy

Antoine Watteau

The violinist

Antoine Watteau

The Quack

Antoine Watteau

The actor Philippe Poisson

Antoine Watteau

The Shipwreck

Antoine Watteau

The Birth of Venus

Antoine Watteau

The Italian troupe

Antoine Watteau

Three representations of a drummer

Antoine Watteau

Three figures

Antoine Watteau

Three pilgrims

Antoine Watteau

Three portraits of musicians

Antoine Watteau

Three studies of the doctor from the Italian Comedy

Antoine Watteau

Three studies of a seated woman

Antoine Watteau

Three studies of a woman's head and a hand study

Antoine Watteau

Three studies according to the head of a young African

Antoine Watteau

Three Studies for a girl

Antoine Watteau

An outstretched lying Leopard

Antoine Watteau

A Theorbo player

Antoine Watteau

An avenue

Antoine Watteau

Flora

Antoine Watteau

Woman with black cap

Antoine Watteau

Half-length figure of a seated lady in profile

Antoine Watteau

Half-length portrait of a young girl

Antoine Watteau

Half-length study of a young man

Antoine Watteau

Autumn

Antoine Watteau

Italian comedians , cheers receiving

Antoine Watteau

Hunting dogs and dead game

Antoine Watteau

Hunting party

Antoine Watteau

Boy's head with hat

Antoine Watteau

Kneeling servant

Antoine Watteau

Kneeling woman , her apron sojourning

Antoine Watteau

Head of a boy in profile to the right

Antoine Watteau

Head of a Man

Antoine Watteau

Male Nude sitting on the floor

Antoine Watteau

Male Nude with bottle

Antoine Watteau

Couples with a fountain

Antoine Watteau

Portrait of Antoine de La Roque

Antoine Watteau

Rescue of Moses from the water

Antoine Watteau

Back view of a seated man and Arm study

Antoine Watteau

Actor parodying a military parade

Antoine Watteau

Shoeshine boy

Antoine Watteau

Nude woman

Antoine Watteau

Silens train

Antoine Watteau

Seated lady , looking and pointing at the right

Antoine Watteau

Seated Woman , looking and pointing to the left

Antoine Watteau

Sitting young woman

Antoine Watteau

Sitting young woman in shirt

Antoine Watteau

Seated man , turning to the right and holding a staff

Antoine Watteau

Seated Persian

Antoine Watteau

Seated Persian

Antoine Watteau

Seated Persian with fur cap

Antoine Watteau

Standing woman , her skirt lifting

Antoine Watteau

Standing male figure

Antoine Watteau

Standing male figure ; Nicolas Vleughels

Antoine Watteau

Standing Savoyardin

Antoine Watteau

Standing man with a glass

Antoine Watteau

standing Persian

Antoine Watteau

Standing Persian with fur cap

Antoine Watteau

Standing Savoyard with marmot

Antoine Watteau

Study for the " love feast "

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet , Seated Woman and man lying

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with the back view of a standing woman and a head study

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with three standing figures , two men and a woman

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with three times the figure of an actor and hand studies

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with flute players and head study of a boy

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with six heads

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with a seated woman and a detailed drawing of her head and her shoulders

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with soldiers

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with two young men, one sitting , the other standing

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with two kids heads and four female heads

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with two male heads and the figure of a woman

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet with two standing men , two standing and three sitting women

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet

Antoine Watteau

Study sheet

Antoine Watteau

Theatre Puppets

Antoine Watteau

Venetian landscape

Antoine Watteau

Four studies of a woman's head

Antoine Watteau

Four studies of a woman's head and two of a seated lady

Antoine Watteau

Four studies of Italian comedians

Antoine Watteau

Female half figure with folded hands

Antoine Watteau

Female Nude on sofa

Antoine Watteau

Two Violin Player

Antoine Watteau

Two men , one kneeling , one standing

Antoine Watteau

Two heads facing to the right

Antoine Watteau

Two recruits

Antoine Watteau

Two actors with a dog

Antoine Watteau

Two studies of the half-figure of a little girl

Antoine Watteau

Two studies of a bagpiper

Antoine Watteau

Two studies of a boy head and hands, tie a bow

Antoine Watteau

Two studies of a man

Antoine Watteau

Two studies of an actor

Antoine Watteau

Two dancing men and old man with stick

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Famous Artists - The Italian Comedians by Antoine Watteau

The Italian...

Jean-Antoine Watteau (French: [ʒan‿ɑ̃twan vato]; baptised October 10, 1684 – died July 18, 1721),[2] better known as Antoine Watteau, was a French painter whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour and movement, as seen in the tradition of Correggio and Rubens. He revitalized the waning Baroque style, shifting it to the less severe, more naturalistic, less formally classical Rococo.

Watteau is credited with inventing the genre of fêtes galantes, scenes of bucolic and idyllic charm, suffused with a theatrical air. Some of his best known subjects were drawn from the world of Italian comedy and ballet.


Early life and training

Watteau was born in the town of Valenciennes in October 1684,[1] which had recently passed from the Spanish Netherlands to France. His father, Jean-Philippe Watteau (died 1720), was a tiler whose brawling is documented fact. Showing an early interest in painting, Jean-Antoine may have been apprenticed to Jacques-Albert Gérin, a local painter.[1] Jean-Antoine's first artistic subjects were charlatans selling quack remedies on the streets of Valenciennes.[1] Watteau left for Paris in about 1702. There he found employment in a workshop at Pont Notre-Dame, making copies of popular genre paintings in the Flemish and Dutch tradition; it was in that period that he developed his characteristic sketchlike technique.

In 1703 he was employed as an assistant by the painter Claude Gillot, whose work represented a reaction against the turgid official art of Louis XIV's reign. In Gillot's studio Watteau became acquainted with the characters of the commedia dell'arte (its actors had been expelled from France several years before), a favorite subject of Gillot's that would become one of Watteau's lifelong passions. Afterward he moved to the workshop of Claude Audran III, an interior decorator, under whose influence he began to make drawings admired for their consummate elegance. Audran was the curator of the Palais du Luxembourg, where Watteau was able to see the magnificent series of canvases painted by Peter Paul Rubens for Queen Marie de Medici. The Flemish painter would become one of his major influences, together with the Venetian masters he would later study in the collection of his patron and friend, the banker Pierre Crozat.


Later career
Pleasures of Love (1718 - 1719)
The Feast (or Festival) of Love (1718 - 1719)
The Embarkation for Cythera, 1717, Louvre. Many commentators note that it depicts a departure from the island of Cythera, the birthplace of Venus, thus symbolizing the brevity of love.

In 1709 Watteau tried to obtain the Prix de Rome and was rejected by the Academy. In 1712 he tried again and was considered so good that, rather than receiving the one-year stay in Rome for which he had applied, he was accepted as a full member of the Academy. He took five years to deliver the required "reception piece", but it was one of his masterpieces: the Pilgrimage to Cythera, also called the Embarkation for Cythera.

Interestingly, while Watteau's paintings seem to epitomize the aristocratic elegance of the Régence (though he actually lived most of his short life under the oppressive climate of Louis XIV's later reign), he never had aristocratic patrons. His buyers were bourgeois such as bankers and dealers.

Although his mature paintings seem to be so many depictions of frivolous fêtes galantes, they in fact display a sober melancholy, a sense of the ultimate futility of life, that makes him, among 18th-century painters, one of the closest to modern sensibilities. His many imitators, such as Nicolas Lancret and Jean-Baptiste Pater, borrowed his themes but could not capture his spirit.

Among his most famous paintings, beside the two versions of the Pilgrimage to Cythera (one in the Louvre, the other in the Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin), are Pierrot (long identified as "Gilles"), Fêtes venitiennes, Love in the Italian Theater, Love in the French Theater, "Voulez-vous triompher des belles?" and Mezzetin. The subject of his hallmark painting, Pierrot or Gilles, with his slowly fading smile, seems a confused actor who appears to have forgotten his lines; he has materialized into the fearful reality of existence, sporting as his only armor the pathetic clown costume. The painting may be read as Watteau's wry comment on his mortal illness.

Watteau's final masterpiece, the Shop-sign of Gersaint, exits the pastoral forest locale for a mundane urban set of encounters. Painted at Watteau's own insistence, "to take the chill off his fingers", this sign for the shop in Paris of the paintings dealer Edme François Gersaint is effectively the final curtain of Watteau's theatre. It has been described as Watteau's Las Meninas, in that the theme appears to be the promotion of art. The scene is an art gallery where the façade has magically vanished. The gallery and street in the canvas are fused into one contiguous drama.

Watteau alarmed his friends by a carelessness about his future and financial security, as if foreseeing he would not live for long. In fact he had been sickly and physically fragile since childhood. In 1720, he travelled to London, England, to consult Dr. Richard Mead, one of the most fashionable physicians of his time and an admirer of Watteau's work. However, London's damp and smoky air offset any benefits of Dr. Mead's wholesome food and medicines. Watteau returned to France and spent his last few months on the estate of his patron, Abbé Haranger, where he died in 1721 perhaps from tuberculous laryngitis at the age of 36. The Abbé said Watteau was semi-conscious and mute during his final days, clutching a paint brush and painting imaginary paintings in the air.[3]

His nephew, Louis Joseph Watteau, son of Antoine's brother Noël Joseph Watteau (1689–1756), and grand nephew, François-Louis-Joseph Watteau, son of Louis, followed Antoine into painting.
Critical assessment and legacy

Little known during his lifetime beyond a small circle of his devotees, Watteau "was mentioned but seldom in contemporary art criticism and then usually reprovingly".[4] Sir Michael Levey once noted that Watteau "created, unwittingly, the concept of the individualistic artist loyal to himself, and himself alone". If his immediate followers (Lancret and Pater) would depict the unabashed frillery of aristocratic romantic pursuits, Watteau in a few masterpieces anticipates an art about art, the world of art as seen through the eyes of an artist. In contrast to the Rococo whimsicality and licentiousness cultivated by Boucher and Fragonard in the later part of Louis XV's reign, Watteau's theatrical panache is usually tinged with a note of sympathy, wistfulness, and sadness at the transience of love and other earthly delights.

Soon after his death a series of engravings was made after his works, The Recueil Jullienne. The quality of the reproductions, using a mixture of engraving and etching following the practice of the Rubens engravers, varied according to the skill of the people employed by Jean de Jullienne, but was often very high. Such a comprehensive record was hitherto unparalleled. This helped disseminate his influence round Europe and into the decorative arts.

Watteau's influence on the arts (not only painting, but the decorative arts, costume, film, poetry, music) was more extensive than that of almost any other 18th-century artist. According to the 1911 Britannica, "in his treatment of the landscape background and of the atmospheric surroundings of the figures can be found the germs of Impressionism". The Watteau dress, a long, sacklike dress with loose pleats hanging from the shoulder at the back, similar to those worn by many of the women in his paintings, is named after him. A revived vogue for Watteau began in England during the British Regency, and was later encapsulated by the Goncourt brothers and the World of Art. In 1984 Watteau societies were created in Paris, by Jean Ferré, and London, by Dr. Selby Whittingham. A major exhibition in Paris, Washington and Berlin commemorated the tercentenary of his birth in 1984. Since 2000 a Watteau centre has been established at Valenciennes by Professor Chris Rauseo. A catalogue of his drawings has been compiled by Pierre Rosenberg, replacing the one by Sir Karl Parker, and Alan Wintermute is preparing one for his paintings.
Lost painting found

La Surprise, painted around 1718, was known only through a copy in the Royal Collection before the original was found during a routine insurance valuation in 2007. The oil painting shows an actor playing a guitar on a stone bench looking across at a couple locked in an amorous embrace. The action is watched by a small dog in the corner. The painting was sold at auction on July 8, 2008 for 15 million Euros; this set a world record price for a painting by Watteau.


References and sources

References

Levey, Michael. (1993) Painting and sculpture in France 1700-1789. New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 29. ISBN 0300064942
Humphrey Wine and Annie Scottez-De Wambrechies. "Watteau" in Grove Art Online. oxfordartonline.com Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
Dormandy, Thomas. "The white death: the history of tuberculosis". New York University Press, 2000. p.11.
Arnold Hauser. Rococo, Classicism and Romanticism. Routledge (UK), 1999. P. 21.

Hermitagemuseum.org

Sources

Dormandy, Thomas. "The White Death: the History of Tuberculosis". New York University Press, 2000.
Levey, Michael, Rococo to Revolution. Thames and Hudson, 1966.
Roland Michel, Marianne, Watteau. Flammarion, 1984.
Schneider, Pierre, The World of Watteau. Time-Life Books, 1967.
Dacier, E., and Vuaflart, A., Jean de Jullienne et les graveurs de Watteau au XVIIIe siecle Paris 1921-9
The Watteau Society Bulletin, London.
Martin Eidelberg, watteauandhiscircle.org

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