LE CARDINAL MAZARIN

1648

A founder of the Royal Academy

Champaigne was one of the founding members of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, the premier art institution of Ancien Régime France.

1654

Rivalry with Charles Le Brun

From 1654 Champaigne competed with the king's First Painter, Charles Le Brun, and took part in decorating the Tuileries Palace under his direction.

1660s

Academy lectures recorded by Félibien

Champaigne left no printed writings, but his lectures and commentaries were recorded in the 1660s by André Félibien. In his last years he taught a great deal at the Academy; after his only son died young, his nephew Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne was brought from Brussels to become his main pupil.

c. 1662

His daughter's miraculous cure at Port-Royal

The artist's paralyzed daughter, who lived at the convent of Port-Royal, was reportedly cured by a miracle. Champaigne then painted the atypical votive picture “Ex-Voto de 1662” (Louvre), showing his daughter with Mother Superior Agnès Arnauld.

1673

Exhibits “The Supper at Emmaus”

Champaigne worked almost until his death: in 1673, a year before he died, he exhibited a “Supper at Emmaus”. In his last period he painted mainly religious subjects and members of his family.

12 de agosto de 1674

Died