Jean Fouquet, the painter of the kings of France

A genius painter and illuminator in the service of royalty, Jean Fouquet brought the Renaissance to France.

Virginie Girod tells you the story of this somewhat forgotten 15th century star!

A new story in partnership with the Cluny Museum, in Paris, which is hosting the exhibition The Arts in France under Charles VII, from March 12 to June 16, 2024. 

Although 15th century France suffered the ravages of the Hundred Years' War, the arts were not neglected.

We are in the middle of what would later be called international Gothic.

When Jean Fouquet was born in Tours, the artistic excitement came in particular from Flemish “primitive” painters.

The painter Jan Van Eyck is credited with the creation of oil painting in the early 1430s. Perfectly initiated into this technique, it was however not enough for Jean Fouquet.

He went to work in Italy where another artistic revolution was taking place: the Italian Renaissance, the Quattrocento!

There the painter met one of the greatest artists of his time, Fra Angelico, nicknamed the "painter of angels". 

When Jean Fouquet returned to France, he quickly made a name for himself as a virtuoso artist.

Orders are pouring in, including at the top of the state.

Around 1450, King Charles VII commissioned his portrait.

Jean Fouquet innovates: no one before him had painted a king of France in such a realistic way!

The painting will serve as a model for artists after him.

Obviously, after the king, the aristocrats also wanted to be painted by Fouquet.

You obviously know the Virgin and Child in the guise of Agnès Sorel that he created for the king's treasurer.

After this commission, Jean Fouquet definitively became the painter of the French court. 

Themes covered: painting, Italian Renaissance, Charles VII, Hundred Years' War  

“At the Heart of History”

- Presentation: Virginie Girod 

- Production: Caroline Garnier 

- Director: Nicolas Gaspard

- Composition of the original music: Julien Tharaud and Sébastien Guidis

- Writing and Distribution: Nathan Laporte

- Communication: Marie Corpet

- Visual: Sidonie Mangin

Online resources: 

http://expositions.bnf.fr/fouquet/reperes/chrono/index.htm 

https://www.persee.fr/doc/bec_0373-6237_1950_num_108_1_461404_t1_0182_0000_000 

https://www.beauxarts.com/grand-format/splendeurs-et-mysteres-du-diptyque-de-melun-de-jean-fouquet/#&gid=1&pid=1 

Bibliography: 

Paul Wescher, Jean Fouquet and his times, Holbein, 1947. 

François Avril and Marie-Thérèse Gousset (dir.), Jean Fouquet, painter and illuminator of the 15th century, BnF, 2003.