The origins, training, life
and work of the French portraitist Jean (also Jehan, Janet) Clouet lie
largely in the dark. He was probably born in Flanders, and perhaps was
the son of Jehan Clouet (c. 1420-c.1480), a Flemish painter, who came to
France as court painter to the Duke of Burgundy. Jean Clouet, on moving
to France, rose to the position of a court painter to King
Francis I. The works attributed to him show an undeniably Netherlandish
influence, particularly in the rendering of detail.
While not a single signed
or reliably authenticated work exists, a great number of drawings survived,
probably from the period of 1515–1540, which gives an insight into
his artistic temperament and stylistic development. These drawings formed
the basis of the attribution of paintings.
It is a fact that Clouet
was an accomplished, sought-after portraitist. His works appeal on account
of their elegance and quality of portrayal. Perhaps the most famous of
his works is Portrait of Francis I.
Clouet’s authorship of the portrait is relatively certain, particularly
in view of the close links which he enjoyed with the French court. He probably
painted several other portraits of the French royal family, such
as the Portrait of the Dauphin François (Antwerp,
Koninklijk Museum) and the Portrait of Francis I’s daughter, Charlotte
(Chicago, Epstein collection.)
Notes
Guillaume Budé (or Budaeus, 1467-1540), French scholar and humanist, author of several works in philosophy, philology, history and jurisprudence, born in Paris. Both Louis XII and Francis I employed him in diplomacy. At his suggestion Francis I founded the Collège de France. He was also the first keeper of the royal library at Fontainebleau (now the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris), and chief city magistrate of Paris. This portrait is mentioned in Budé’s manuscript notes and is Jean Clouet’s only documented painting.
Claude of Lorraine, the 1st Duke of Guise (1496-1550), son of Rene, Duke of Lorraine, and Philippine von Geldern; he was married to Antoinette de Bourbon, Duchess of Guise.
Bibliography:
Clouet. by N. Maltseva. Moscow. 1963. (in Russian)
Painting of Europe. XIII-XX centuries. Encyclopedic Dictionary.
Moscow. Iskusstvo. 1999.
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