Nicolas de Largillière

Nicolas de Largillière was a French painter born on October 10, 1656, in Paris, and he died on March 20, 1746, in the same city. He was a prominent figure of the Baroque period, known for his portraiture that captured the opulence and grandeur of the French aristocracy. Largillière's work is characterized by its rich color palette and detailed depiction of fabrics and textures, which contributed significantly to the development of French portrait painting in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He trained in Antwerp and London before returning to Paris, where he became a member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1686. His clientele included notable figures such as King Louis XIV and various members of the European nobility, solidifying his reputation as a leading portraitist of his time. Largillière's legacy is marked by his ability to blend the grandeur of Baroque art with the emerging Rococo style, influencing subsequent generations of portrait artists.