Gerard de Lairesse

Gerard de Lairesse was a Dutch painter and art theorist born in the Netherlands in 1640. He was a prominent figure in the Baroque art movement, known for his large-scale history paintings and allegorical works. De Lairesse's contributions to art theory were significant, particularly through his writings that emphasized the importance of ideal beauty and classical principles. His career was marked by a decline in health that led to blindness in his later years, ultimately impacting his artistic output. He passed away in 1711, leaving a lasting influence on the development of Dutch painting.