Allegorie van avond

c. 1630

At eleven he becomes a pupil of Simon Vouet

When the boy turned eleven, his uncle André Le Blé — tutor to the children of the future chancellor Pierre Séguier — recommended his nephew for training for the public service; Charles became an apprentice to the painter Simon Vouet. He also studied with François Perrier.

1642

He travels to Rome with Poussin

In 1642 he sets out for Rome with Poussin; thanks to a scholarship from Chancellor Séguier he works there for four years under Poussin, studies ancient Roman sculpture, copies Raphael and meets local artists.

1648

The Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture is founded

Le Brun is the driving force behind the creation of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and is elected one of its original twelve elders in charge of its running.

1660

The Gobelins Manufactory is founded

With Colbert he founds the Gobelins manufactory — at first a great school producing not only tapestries but every kind of furniture required for the royal palaces; Le Brun becomes its director and through it commands the industrial arts.

December 1662

Louis XIV ennobles Le Brun

The king is so delighted with the first picture of the series, “Alexander and the Family of Darius”, that he at once ennobles the artist and grants him a pension of 12,000 livres, the same sum he had received yearly in Fouquet's service. From then on everything done in the royal palaces is directed by Le Brun.

12 febbraio 1690

Died