Portrait artist in the Enlightenment era

Description

D'ARNOULT (Dominique) Jean-Baptiste Perronneau 1715-1783, Arthena, 2014. Paris 2015, large format (32 x 24 cm), 448 pages with 440 illustrations, including over 168 in color. In the 18th century, the unprecedented vogue for portraiture, especially in pastel, is dominated by two major figures: Maurice Quentin Delatour and Jean-Baptiste Perronneau. Admitted to the Academy in 1746, Perronneau excels in this genre, giving his portraits the impression of being completed in the moment. He becomes one of the favorite painters of the public at the Salon du Louvre, where his rivalry with Delatour will be displayed for over twenty years. Perronneau travels to major French cities and foreign capitals to meet clientele from both the aristocracy and the worlds of commerce and art. His portraits illustrate the society of a dynamic Enlightenment world. It is at the turn of the 20th century that the greatest collectors will restore Perronneau to his deserved place, as contemporaries of the Impressionists will appreciate the 'learned resemblance' of his figures, his vibrant touch, and his talent as a colorist. Richly illustrated with over four hundred often unpublished works...