(and workshop) Clouet, Francois Paintings

Francois Clouet was a French Renaissance painter, known primarily for his detailed portraits of the French elite. His works are known for their exquisite detail and the insight they provide into the fashions and personalities of the time. Clouet was born in Tours, France, around the year 1510. He was the son of Jean Clouet, who was also a gifted painter and one of the first important portrait artists in France. Under his father's tutelage, Francois developed his artistic skills and eventually took over the workshop after his father's death.

Clouet became the official court painter to King Francis I of France after his father's passing and continued to serve under Francis's successors: Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX, and possibly during the early reign of Henry III. He was granted the title of 'Painter in Ordinary to the King,' which allowed him to enjoy a high status at court and the privileges associated with this position.

Throughout his career, Clouet was celebrated for his portraits that captured the likenesses and the courtly airs of his subjects with a realism that was ahead of his time. Unlike his father, who was also noted for his miniature portraits, Francois preferred working on larger canvases. His most famous works include portraits of Elizabeth of Austria, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Charles IX of France. Clouet's style was influenced by the Italian Renaissance, and he is credited with integrating those elements into French portrait painting, which would go on to influence the next generations of French artists.

Francois Clouet never married and left no direct heirs. He died in 1572, possibly in Paris. His works continued to be highly valued after his death, and his influence can be seen in the later works of the French School. Clouet's portraits remain a significant cultural resource for understanding French Renaissance court life and the historical figures of his time.