Sainte Catherine d'Alexandrie

17. November 1612

Born

until 1635

In Vouet's workshop: Le Brun, Le Sueur, Du Fresnoy

Under the patronage of Marshal de Vitry, he becomes a pupil of Simon Vouet. In Vouet's workshop he meets his future rival Charles Le Brun and gets to know Eustache Le Sueur and Charles-Alphonse Du Fresnoy, who becomes his friend.

1657

Summoned to Paris by the court of Louis XIV

Famous in Italy, he is summoned to Paris in 1657 to the court of Louis XIV; by other accounts, the summons probably came from Cardinal Mazarin.

1658–1690

Rivalry with Charles Le Brun

He becomes the rival of the king's first painter Charles Le Brun, whom he had known since Vouet's workshop, and refuses to join the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture while Le Brun is its director; instead he heads a competing guild, the Academy of Saint Luke in Paris. His brother Nicolas and his nephew and pupil Paul side with Le Brun, and relations with them break down.

1690

Succeeds the late Le Brun in his posts

After Le Brun's death he becomes the king's first painter, director of the royal art museums and manufactories and director of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture; in the Academy he is also a member and professor, later rector and chancellor.

30. Mai 1695

Died