Watteau, Jean Antoine Paintings

Jean-Antoine Watteau, born on October 10, 1684, in Valenciennes, which was then a Flemish town and now part of France, was a French painter whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in color and movement in the Rococo style. Known for his delicate brushwork, Watteau is credited with inventing the genre of fêtes galantes, scenes of bucolic and idyllic charm, suffused with a light-hearted mood.

Watteau showed an early talent for art, which led to an apprenticeship with a local painter. In 1702, he moved to Paris, where he worked for a curtain painter. It was during this time that Watteau was exposed to the theatrical world, which would become a significant influence on his work. He later worked for the painter Claude Gillot, whose theatrical and festive scenes also impacted his artistic development.

In 1709, Watteau tried to win the Prix de Rome but was unsuccessful. However, his fortunes changed when he met the wealthy art collector Pierre Crozat, who provided Watteau with the opportunity to study his extensive collection of Italian masterpieces. These works, particularly those of the Venetian school, influenced Watteau's development of a softer and more atmospheric style.

Watteau's most famous work, 'Pilgrimage to Cythera' (1717), epitomizes the fêtes galantes genre. He was admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture on the merit of this painting, under the newly minted category of 'fêtes galantes'. Despite this recognition, Watteau remained a melancholic and introspective figure, and his health was fragile. He suffered from tuberculosis, which led to his early death on July 18, 1721, in Nogent-sur-Marne, at the age of 36.

Watteau's influence was profound in the development of Rococo art. His technique of using free and expressive brushwork, his subtle use of color, and his ability to capture the ephemeral quality of light and atmosphere were all innovative. His legacy continued through his students and followers, known as the 'Watteau School', and his works continue to be celebrated for their lyricism and poetic approach to painting.