Marc L'Ancien Nattier Paintings

Marc L'Ancien Nattier, also known as Marc Nattier, was a French artist born in Paris in 1642. He hailed from a family of artists; his father, Marc Nattier (the Elder), was a member of the Parisian guild of Saint Luke, and his brother, Jean Nattier, also had a career in painting. Marc L'Ancien is not as widely known as his son, Jean-Marc Nattier, who would go on to become a celebrated portraitist during the Rococo period.

Marc L'Ancien Nattier's career unfolded during the reign of Louis XIV, a time when the arts in France were under the strong influence of the Baroque style, which had spread from Italy. His artistic work has not been as well-documented as that of his more famous son, and much of what is known about Marc L'Ancien comes from the context of his family's artistic dynasty.

Nattier's body of work as a painter is not comprehensively cataloged, and only a few pieces have been attributed to him with certainty. His art would have likely included religious themes, which were common at the time, as well as possibly some elements of portraiture or genre painting. As an artist in the 17th century, he would have been engaged in the artistic debates of the time, including the evolving French Classicism that sought a balance between the drama of the Baroque and a more restrained aesthetic.

Marc L'Ancien Nattier passed away in 1705. Despite the lack of widespread recognition, he contributed to the rich tapestry of French art and provided a foundation for his descendants, particularly Jean-Marc Nattier, to impact the art world in France. The Nattier family, through several generations, played a role in shaping the artistic landscape of their time, and Marc L'Ancien's life and work are an integral part of that lineage.