Jean Fouquet
The Interesting Renaissance Artist
The Beginnings
- Born 1420 in Tours, France
- Spent most of life working on paintings in Tours and Italy
Trained under the Bedford Master in Paris. Fouquet became prominent in art during his 20's. King Charles VII and the Roman Pope Eugenius IV authorized him to paint their portraits.
His Artistic Life
First well known French artist. He made various paintings for important people in his time such as the king and the Roman Pope. He achieved many artistic accomplishments being a highly regarded artist of his time, and painted for the King.
Jean was a painter. Two of his most famous paintings were Melun Diptych and the Hours of Étienne Chevalier.
Charles VII,
Etienne Chevalier, Jouvenel des Ursins and the
Roman Pope Eugenius IV were his patrons
2 Ism's of this Renaissance Man
One Ism Fouquet is linked to is individualism because he established himself as the very first profound French artist. He distinguished himself through his paintings and left an imprint on the history of European painting.
One Ism Fouquet is linked to is
humanism because the majority of his paintings revolved around people. His paintings exemplified the person the portrait was about. For example, he painted for the king and exemplified him in the paintings.
Melun Diptych
- Melun Diptych, 1450
- Found in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Belgium
- The main significance of the piece was on the right panel Madonna Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim (Virgin of Melun). This painting is clearly recognizable as the King’s mistress Agnes Sorel. In this painting, her breast is exposed. This was very scandalous considering the portrait was of the mistress.
My Description
- Étienne Chevalier and Saint Stephen are painted in front of detailed marble walls of a Renaissance palace on the right panel.
- Madonna and Child are surrounded by nude, shining, chubby red and blue angels on the left panel. Madonna’s throne and crown are embedded with gems. Her breast is exposed.
This Piece's Ism
Humanism is most linked to this artwork because these paintings have a religious element that revolves around the human.
The painting on the left panel is focused on Chevalier and Saint Stephen. Chevalier appears to be praying while Saint Stephen has a religious book and a rock on the book.
The painting on the right panel is of the King’s mistress Agnes Sorel. She is holding a baby while blue and red angels surround her. These paintings portray that religion was a big part of humans.
Very Very Interesting
- These two paintings in this piece are completely different in color which interests me. The painting on the left uses lighter colors while the one on the left uses darker colors. Also, the two paintings have different feelings to them. The one on the left has a mild feeling while the one on the right has a dark eerie feeling.
Citations
Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"Jean Fouquet." Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Springfield, MA:
Merriam-Webster, 1995. Biography in Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"Jean Fouquet." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in
Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
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<1>
Creator : Jean Fouquet
Title : Etienne Chevalier and Saint Stephen, left wing of the Melun Diptych [Etienne Chevalier mit dem Heiligen Stephanus, linke Hälfte eines Diptychons]
Date : 1454-56
Repository : Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Repository : http://www.smb.museum/smb/home/index.php?lang=de
ARTstor : BERLIN_DB_10313749824
URL : http://library.artstor.org/library/secure/ViewImages?id=8zZXajAhOy81MUA7eD94QHokXnMt
<2>
Creator : Jean Fouquet
Title : Madonna Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim (Virgin of Melun)
Date : c. 1450
Repository : Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Belgium)
ARTstor : SCALA_ARCHIVES_1039931973
URL : http://library.artstor.org/library/secure/ViewImages?id=4iFCeTg4NCciJy8laCt2KngqVXkhf1VyfQ%3D%3D