Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée (called ''Lagrenée l'aîné'', Lagrenée the elder) (30 December 1724 – 19 June 1805) was a French

rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

painter and student of

Carle van Loo Carle or Carlé is a surname. Notable people with the name include: *Andrea Cosima Carle, whose stage name is Maggie Mae (1960 – 2021), German singer *Barbara Carle (born 1958), French-American poet, critic, translator and Italianist *David Ca ...

. He won the ''Grand

Prix de Rome The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...

'' for painting in 1749 and was elected a member of the ''

Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture The Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture (; en, "Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture") was founded in 1648 in Paris, France. It was the premier art institution of France during the latter part of the Ancien Régime until it was abo ...

'' in 1755. His younger brother Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (called ''Lagrenée le jeune'', Lagrenée the younger) was also a painter. Lagrenée's notable career appointments included: :* Court painter to

Elizabeth, Empress of Russia Elizabeth Petrovna (russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́та) Петро́вна) (), also known as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death in 1762. She remains one of the most popular Russian ...

. :* Director of the ''

Academy of Arts An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, f ...

'' in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

. :* Director of the

French Academy in Rome The French Academy in Rome (french: Académie de France à Rome) is an Academy located in the Villa Medici, within the Villa Borghese, on the Pincio (Pincian Hill) in Rome, Italy. History The Academy was founded at the Palazzo Capranica in ...

. :* Professor-rector of the ''Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture''. :* Honorary director-curator of the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the '' Venus de Milo''. A central ...

museum. In July 1804, Napoleon I conferred upon Lagrenée the rank of ''chevalier'' (Knight) of the ''

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

''. Lagrenée died in June 1805, aged 80 years and 6 months.

Early life

Lagrenée was born in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

on 30 December 1724 and from an early age he showed promise in

drawing Drawing is a form of visual art in which an artist uses instruments to mark paper or other two-dimensional surface. Drawing instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, various kinds of paints, inked brushes, colored pencils, crayo ...

and

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and a ...

. During his youth, master painter members of the French Royal Academy offered a rolling programme of courses, open to the public (for a small fee), in life drawing and the principles and techniques of art. These courses gave academy members a chance to identify and nurture six of the most gifted young students in any given year and offer them a place on a scheme known as the ''École royale des élèves protégés'', a scheme which offered free tuition with a small

stipend A stipend is a regular fixed sum of money paid for services or to defray expenses, such as for scholarship, internship, or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from an income or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work p ...

, for three years, preparing students for ''Prix de Rome'' competitions. After being selected for and completing this three-year programme, under the tutelage of Carle van Loo, Lagrenée won the ''Grand Prix de Rome'' on his first attempt in 1749, with the painting ''Joseph interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh'' (now lost).

Study in Rome

As a student at the

, Lagrenée developed a "Formative if youthful fixation with

Baroque painting Baroque painting is the painting associated with the Baroque cultural movement. The movement is often identified with Absolutism, the Counter Reformation and Catholic Revival,Bolognese School The Bolognese School of painting, also known as the ''School of Bologna'', flourished between the 16th and 17th centuries in Bologna, which rivalled Florence and Rome as the center of painting in Italy. Its most important representatives i ...

, particularly by the work of

Guido Reni Guido Reni (; 4 November 1575 – 18 August 1642) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne. He painted primarily religi ...

(1575–1642) and

Francesco Albani Francesco Albani or Albano (17 March or 17 August 1578 – 4 October 1660) was an Italian Baroque painter who was active in Bologna (1591–1600), Rome (1600–1609), Bologna (1609), Viterbo (1609–1610), Bologna (1610), Rome (1610–1617), ...

(1578–1660). Later in his career, Lagrenée acquired the

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

'the French Albani' (''l'Albane Francais'').

Academy membership

Lagrenee, Louis Jean - Aurora's Take Off

After returning from Rome in 1753, Lagrenée set to work on a large painting - ''The abduction of Dejaneira by the centaur Nessus'' (musée du

) - which, when finished in 1755, was the

reception piece In art, a reception piece is a work submitted by an artist to an academy for approval as part of the requirements for admission to membership. The piece is normally representative of the artist's work, and the organization's judgement of its skil ...

which earned him membership of the ''Académie de peinture et de sculpture'', by a unanimous vote. By this time, Lagrenée was already considered something of a celebrity.

By royal appointment

St.Petersburg

:Lagrenée's career blossomed in Paris, by completing many commissions for eminent patrons and members of a flourishing new financial community as well as submitting regular entries to Paris

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon ( ...

exhibitions. His reputation caught the attention of

Elizabeth Petrovna Elizabeth Petrovna (russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́та) Петро́вна) (), also known as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death in 1762. She remains one of the most popular Russian ...

, Empress of Russia, who, in 1760, appointed him to the office of the director of the Academy at St. Petersburg and that of her principle painter.

Paris

:After only two years in Russia, Lagrenée returned to Paris to take up the appointment of professor-rector of the ''Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture''.

Rome

:Lagrenée spent the years between 1781 and 1787 at the

Villa Medici The Villa Medici () is a Mannerist villa and an architectural complex with a garden contiguous with the larger Borghese gardens, on the Pincian Hill next to Trinità dei Monti in Rome, Italy. The Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de' Medici, ...

in Rome, in his capacity as director of the French Academy (''Académie de France à Rome'').

Paris

:A final return to Paris saw Lagrenée appointed to the position of honorary curator-director (administration) of the Louvre museum, a position which he held until his death in 1805.

Legion of Honour

Lagrenee, Louis Jean - Apelles verliebt sich in die Geliebte Alexander des Große - 1772

Lagrenée was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour (''Legion d'honneur'') on 15 July 1804 by Napoleon I.

Public records

On Monday 10 July 1758, at the age of 33, Lagrenée married 16-year-old Anne-Agathe Isnard. Fifty-five years later, on 19 June 1805, Lagrenée's death certificate recorded that they were still married.

Works in Public Collections (''non exhaustive'')

Paintings

musée du Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

: ''L'Enlèvement de Déjanire par le centaure Nessus'' (1755), ''Mercure, Aglaure et Hersé'' (1767), ''Psyché surprend l'Amour endormi'' (1768), ''La Mort de la Femme de Darius'' (1785), ''L'Amour des Arts console la Peinture des écrits ridicules et envenimés de ses ennemis'' *

Stockholm Stockholm () is the capital and largest city of Sweden as well as the largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.4 million in the metropo ...

Nationalmuseum Nationalmuseum (or National Museum of Fine Arts) is the national gallery of Sweden, located on the peninsula Blasieholmen in central Stockholm. The museum's operations stretches far beyond the borders of Blasieholmen, the nationalmuseum manage ...

: ''Mars et Vénus surpris par Vulcain'' (1768) * Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon : ''La Moisson - Cérès et l'Agriculture'' (vers 1770) *

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

Getty Center The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, California, is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The $1.3 billion center opened to the public on December 16, 1997 and is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overl ...

: ''Vénus et Mars, une allégorie de la Paix'' (1770) * Musée des beaux-arts de Quimper : ''Esther et Assuérus'' (1775–1780) * Musée des arts décoratifs de Paris : ''Jupiter transformé en taureau enlève Europe'', ''Thétys reçoit Apollon'' *

Detroit Institute of Arts The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, has one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. With over 100 galleries, it covers with a major renovation and expansion project comple ...

: ''Pygmalion and Galatea'', (1781) *

Palace of Fontainebleau Palace of Fontainebleau (; ) or Château de Fontainebleau, located southeast of the center of Paris, in the commune of Fontainebleau, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The medieval castle and subsequent palace served as a residence ...

: ''The death of the Dauphin, surrounded by his family'', (1765) *

Lyon Cathedral Lyon Cathedral (french: link=no, Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon) is a Roman Catholic church located on Place Saint-Jean in central Lyon, France. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and is the seat of the Archbishop of ...

, ''Saint John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos'', (1758)

Tapestries

* Collection of mythological subjects, after six paintings, acquired by the ''administration royale'' for the ''manufacture d'Aubusson'', 1759:Pascal-François Bertrand. ''Aubusson, tapisseries des Lumières'', Paris, Snoeck / Aubusson : Cité de la tapisserie, 2013, . ** ''Aurore enlève Céphale'', whereabouts of cartoon unknown. ** ''Jupiter transformé en taureau enlève Europe'', carton conserved at the musée des Arts décoratifs de Paris ** ''Vénus aux forges de Lemnos'', cartoon described by

Denis Diderot Denis Diderot (; ; 5 October 171331 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the '' Encyclopédie'' along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a promi ...

after the salon of 1759, tapestry conserved at the musée départemental de la tapisserie d'Aubusson ** ''Borée enlève Orythie'', whereabouts unknown. ** ''Thétys reçoit Apollon'', cartoon conserved at the ''musée des Arts décoratifs'', Paris ** ''Mercure apporte Bacchus aux nymphes de Nysa'', also known as ''La Naissance de Bacchus'', tapestry conserved at the

Mobilier National The ''Mobilier National'' is a French national service agency under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture. It administers the Gobelins Manufactory and Beauvais Manufactory. Its history goes back to the ''Garde-Meuble de la Couronne'', ...

, Paris.

Gallery

File:Pygmalion and Galatea (Lagrenée).jpg, ''Pygmalion et Galatée'', (1781). File:Le Dauphin mourant entouré de sa famille, le duc de Bourgogne lui présente le couronne de l'immortalité, le 20 décembre 1765.jpg, ''Death of the Dauphin'', (1765). File:Mars et Venus surpris par Vulcain..jpg, ''Mars and Venus surprised by Vulcan'', (1768) File:La Mort de la femme de Darius.jpg, ''Death of the wife of Darius'', (1785). File:.Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée, Saint Jean dans l’île de Pathmos. 1758. Lyon, Primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg, ''Saint John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos,'' (1758) File:Lagrenee - Alcibiades on his Knees Before his Mistress - c.1781.jpg, ''Alcibiades on his Knees Before his Mistress''

Students

Antoine-Denis Chaudet Antoine-Denis Chaudet (3 March 1763 – 19 April 1810) was a French sculptor who worked in a neoclassical style. Although mostly known as a sculptor, Chaudet did branch out in style and medium over the course of his career as an artist. Late ...

(1763–1810) * Lagrenée le Jeune (''the younger''), (his brother) *

Pierre Peyron Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

(1744–1814)

References

Bibliography

* ''

Benezit Dictionary of Artists The ''Benezit Dictionary of Artists'' (in French, ''Bénézit: Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs'') is an extensive publication of bibliographical information on painters, sculptors, designers and engravers create ...

'' * Marc Sandoz, ''Les Lagrenée, I. Louis (Jean, François) Lagrénée, 1725–1805'', Tours, 1983 * Pascal-François Bertrand, « La tenture des sujets mythologiques d'après Lagrenée l'aîné reconstituée », dans ''Aubusson, tapisseries des Lumières'', Paris, Aubusson, 2013 *

External links

Lagrenée l’Ainé
in the French National archive:

Joconde Joconde is the central database created in 1975 and now available online, maintained by the French Ministry of Culture, for objects in the collections of the main French public and private museums listed as ''Musées de France'', according to ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lagrenee, Louis Prix de Rome for painting 1724 births 1805 deaths Rococo painters Painters from Paris 18th-century French painters French male painters 19th-century French painters 19th-century French male artists 18th-century French male artists