NATTIER, Jean-Marc
French painter (b. 1685, Paris, d. 1766, Paris)
Biography
French portrait painter. His father, Jean (c. 1642-1705), was a painter and his mother,
Marie Courtois (c. 1655-1703), was a miniaturist. He was one of the most successful
artists at the court of Louis XV, excelling in the vogue for painting women in mythological
or allegorical fancy dress - or undress - transforming his matrons into goddesses
(Mme de Lambesc as Minerva, Louvre, Paris, 1737). His portraits are little concerned
with individual characterization, but they show fluency, vivacity, and a relaxed
charm. He was at his best with women and has been accused of 'painting with make-up',
a comment that suggests the pastel-like delicacy of his handling. Taste was turning
against him towards the end of his career and some of his later work shows signs
of fatigue. His brother Jean-Baptiste (1678-1726) was also a painter; he committed
suicide after being expelled by the Académie. |
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