Cheri Francois Dubreuil Paintings

Jean François de Troy was a French Rococo painter and engraver who was born in Paris on January 27, 1684. His father, François de Troy (1645–1730), was a successful portrait painter in the court of Louis XIV. Jean François was first trained by his father and then continued his education at the Royal Academy, where he won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1699 for his painting 'Ruth and Boaz' and was subsequently sent to the French Academy in Rome.

During his stay in Rome, de Troy was influenced by the works of classicist painters like Poussin. However, he developed his own style, which melded the grandeur of the classical tradition with the light-heartedness of the Rococo movement that was gaining popularity in France. His paintings often depicted mythological and historical subjects with an emphasis on sensuality and courtly elegance.

After returning to Paris in 1706, de Troy rapidly gained fame and was admitted to the Royal Academy in 1708. He became a professor there in 1716 and later served as the director of the French Academy in Rome from 1738 to 1751. During his career, he painted for various members of the nobility as well as for the royal family, including Louis XIV and Louis XV.

Jean François de Troy's works include 'The Declaration of Love' (1724), 'The Abduction of Helen' (1750), and a series of tapestry designs for the Beauvais Tapestry Manufacture. His tapestries were highly valued and contributed greatly to the Rococo tapestry tradition in France.

De Troy's influence extended to his pupils, which included some notable artists such as François Boucher. Unfortunately, his work was somewhat overshadowed by the rise of artists like Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who became the leading figures of the French Rococo.

Jean François de Troy passed away in Rome on January 26, 1752, leaving behind a significant body of work that beautifully captured the elegance and frivolity of the Rococo period.