. Art in France. The Influence of Rubens: Dest>ories,Rigaud and Largilliere. — Halteau; Flemish Technique and Parisian Poetry. HisImitators. The prolonged old age of Louis XIV, the frequent intervals ofcourt mourning, even the reverses of the monarchy did not tend togive a gloomv cast to the temper of French artists. Architecture,sculpture and painting escaped the melancholy that brooded overthe last years of the reign. The disappearance of the king causedno break in the continuity of the intellectual history of France:it v^as responsible, perhaps, for an outbreak of libertinage; but thebri
. Art in France. The Influence of Rubens: Dest>ories,Rigaud and Largilliere. — Halteau; Flemish Technique and Parisian Poetry. HisImitators. The prolonged old age of Louis XIV, the frequent intervals ofcourt mourning, even the reverses of the monarchy did not tend togive a gloomv cast to the temper of French artists. Architecture,sculpture and painting escaped the melancholy that brooded overthe last years of the reign. The disappearance of the king causedno break in the continuity of the intellectual history of France:it v^as responsible, perhaps, for an outbreak of libertinage; but thebrilliant fantasy of French painters found expression before work of Watleau, the most perfect manifestation of theRegency spirit, was almost hnished when Louis XIV died. Fora long lime, ever since the death of Colbert, in fact. French art hadceased to belong to the king. Contemplating the long-drawn set-ting of the sun at Versailles, men look no heed of the dawn in Paris. 23a THE END OF LOUIS XIVS REIGN. During those very weighed so heavilyon the Court, the nervousvivacity of the eighteenthcentury had aheady takenpossession of the soul of thecity. In the middle of theseventeenth century, Parisalready had a considerablenumber of collectors of pic-tures and precious connoisseurs formeda society of their own, atwhich men of the worldwere inclined to laugh alittle. The amateurs of painting multiplied very rapidly, and thoughthey were not all rich enough to be collectors, they formed a verycultivated circle, ready to admire or to criticise. When the royalMcecenas ceased to employ artists, private patrons were readyto give them commissions, and a numerous public was eager tointerest itself in their works. The good society of the city hadsucceeded the world of the court. The picture-exhibitions broughtit together. Art could no longer live on abstract and purely aca-demic doctrines; it had become necessary to give pleasure, and FK,. 405.— ROBERT LE
Size: 1742px × 1435px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernew, booksubjectart
