Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer
(1636 - 1699) |
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Flowers, Still Lifes, Secular Narratives, Art Work
| Name: |
Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
Lille, France |
| Nationality: |
Franco-Flemish |
| Birth: |
1636 |
| Death: |
1699 |
| Website: |
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| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
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Quick Facts
| Known For: |
Flowers, Still Lifes, Secular Narratives, |
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| Style: |
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| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painting
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Biography
| Considered the most famous French flower painter of his day, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer adopted the sumptuous Flemish manner of still-life painting with great success. His reputation rivaled that of Mignon and van Huysum, and Monnoyer was called on to collaborate on the decoration of various royal residences by Le Brun. Today his rather extensive surviving oeuvre is still obscured by the works of imitators and the lack of securely documented examples. Nevertheless, Monnoyer's accepted paintings justify his reputation and anticipate the animated, lightly conceived, and delicately painted still lifes of the eighteenth century. Having probably studied in Antwerp, Monnoyer came to Paris as a youth, where he quickly made a reputation for himself by painting flower pictures. Le Brun saw his potential for enriching the decor of royal residences and gave him many commissions. He worked with Philippe de Champaigne at the Chateau de Vincennes, with Le Sueur at the Hdtel Lambert, and contributed to the decorations of the Louvre, Trianon, Menagerie of Versailles, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain, the Tuilleries, and Marly. In 1665 he was accepted by the Royal Academy and became a councilor in 1679. In 1682 he produced designs for the Gobelins tapestry works and later for Beauvais. In 1690 Monnoyer went to England at the invitation of Lord Montagu, where he produced decorations for Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, and Kensington Palace, among other residences. He added flowers to some of Kneller's portraits as well. The Duke of Montagu was his principal patron and much of the work Monnoyer produced for him is still in Boughton House, Northamptonshire. Monnoyer's rich and vivacious manner of painting and his elegant arrangements were in marked contrast to the more conservative native French still-life tradition of the early part of the century. His style was followed by his son Antoine and son-in-law Blain de Fontenay. |
Samples of Work
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