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Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin
(1699-1779)
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| Jean Baptiste
Chardin was the creator of modern still life and is
considered to be one of the finest painters of the 18th
century. Compared to Rembrandt and an inspiration for
future artists such as Matisse, Cezanne and Van Gogh,
Chardin was a master in the truest sense, but his name
is generally lesser known than other artists. |
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Still Life
The Silver Goblet
Wild Strawberries
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Born in Paris on the
cusp of the new century, Chardin had virtually no early
formal artistic training and was self-taught. He studied
and was influenced by the 17th century low country
masters, and eventually created a Rococo style for
himself. He generally painted historical subjects and
every day domestic scenes. |
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Grace Before Meal
The Mother's Advice
Girl Peeling Vegetables
Still Life with Cat and Fish
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By 1728, Chardin was
admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture
and from this point on, painted scenes of bourgeois
Parisians. In fact, one of his earliest patrons was King
Louis XV. Chardin was highly sought after at the time
because he was able to achieve a highly realistic
texture on canvas simply by working with brushstrokes
and glazes. This great talent earned him the title of
the “grand magician” by his critics and patrons. |
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Boy Playing With Cards
The Young Schoolmistress
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In the last years of
his life, Chardin’s eyes began to fail so he turned to
pastels. While these paintings were not as highly valued
during his lifetime, they are truly coveted now. Chardin
also created a number of self-portraits which are highly
recognizable. He is pictured strangely wearing scarves
around his head and neck, and even what looks like a
ladies hat in one, as well as a pair of spectacles. |
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Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait, pastel on paper
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As can be seen in his
painting “Still Life with Peaches,” Chardin would often
incorporate his name into his composition as simply “chardin.” |
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Still Life With Peaches
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Perhaps the reason
that Chardin’s work has stood the test of time is that
his themes are very universal. He painted the bourgeois
in the same light as the peasantry, and portrayed them
doing normal activities and not just lounging or posing. |
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Lady Sealing a Letter
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Many of his critics
have hailed him for the way that he captured humanity in
his paintings, and for this reason, his work still
resonates with collectors today. Many of his paintings
are housed in the Louvre and other venues world wide,
and perhaps even in your home. |
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