Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée

1.1. Early Life and Education

Lagrenée was born in Paris, France, on 30 December 1724. From an early age, he exhibited considerable promise in drawing and painting. He was a student of Carle van Loo, a leading figure in French painting. Lagrenée joined the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture_{Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture}^French as a student in 1744. He was selected for the École royale des élèves protégés_{Royal School for Protected Students}^French, a three-year program offering free tuition and a stipend, designed to prepare gifted young artists for the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome_{Grand Prix de Rome}^French competition. In 1749, on his first attempt, he won the Grand Prix de Rome with his painting Joseph interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, a work that is now lost. As a student at the French Academy in Rome, he developed a strong affinity for Baroque painting, drawing particular inspiration from the Bolognese School, and especially the works of Guido Reni and Francesco Albani. His deep admiration for Albani later led to him being known as l'Albane Francais_{the French Albani}^French.

1.2. Early Career and Academy Membership

Upon his return from Rome in 1753, Lagrenée embarked on a major work, The Abduction of Deianira by the Centaur Nessus, which was completed in 1755. This painting served as his reception piece for the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture_{Royal Academy}^French, earning him a unanimous vote for membership. By this time, he was already considered a celebrated artist. In 1758, he became a professor at the Royal Academy.

1.3. Later Career and International Roles

Lagrenée's career in Paris flourished, with numerous commissions from prominent patrons and regular exhibitions at the Paris Salon. His growing reputation attracted international attention, notably from Empress Elizabeth Petrovna of Russia. In 1760, she appointed him as the director of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg and her principal court painter, succeeding Louis-Joseph Le Lorrain. After two years in Russia, Lagrenée returned to Paris in 1762 to assume the role of professor-rector at the Royal Academy. Between 1781 and 1787, he served as the director of the French Academy in Rome, based at the Villa Medici. Following the French Revolution and the establishment of Napoleon's empire, he was appointed honorary curator-director (administration) of the Louvre Museum in Paris. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour on 15 July 1804 by Napoleon I.

1.4. Marriage and Family

On 10 July 1758, at the age of 33, Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée married 16-year-old Anne-Agathe Isnard. Records from his death certificate, 55 years later, indicate that they remained married until his passing.

1.5. Death

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée died on 19 June 1805, the year after receiving the Legion of Honour.

2.1. Career in France

After his return from Rome, Lagrenée established a successful career in France. He received numerous commissions from influential patrons within the burgeoning financial community and consistently participated in the Paris Salon exhibitions, solidifying his reputation as a leading painter of his era.

2.2. Activities in Russia

From 1760 to 1762, Lagrenée served the Russian Imperial court in Saint Petersburg. During this period, he held the dual prestigious roles of director of the Imperial Academy of Arts and principal court painter to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. His tenure in Russia allowed him to exert considerable influence on the artistic development within the Russian Empire.

2.3. Directorships and Curator Roles

Lagrenée's administrative skills were as notable as his artistic talent. He directed the French Academy in Rome at the Villa Medici for six years, from 1781 to 1787, where he mentored and guided a new generation of French artists studying in Italy. Later in his career, he held the position of honorary curator-director at the Louvre Museum, playing a key role in the administration of one of the world's most important art institutions.

2.4. Major Paintings

Lagrenée's major paintings are primarily historical and mythological subjects, often characterized by their elegant compositions and refined color palettes. These works are found in prestigious collections worldwide, reflecting his enduring legacy in the art world.

• The Abduction of Deianira by the Centaur Nessus (1755), located at the Louvre Museum, Paris. This was his influential reception piece for the Royal Academy.
• Mercury, Aglaurus and Herse (1767), at the Louvre Museum, Paris.
• Psyche Surprising Sleeping Cupid (1768), at the Louvre Museum, Paris.
• The Death of the Wife of Darius (1785), at the Louvre Museum, Paris.
• The Love of the Arts Consoles Painting from the Ridiculous and Poisonous Writings of Its Enemies (undated), at the Louvre Museum, Paris.
• Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan (1768), at the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
• The Harvest - Ceres and Agriculture (c.1770), at the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon.
• Mars and Venus; an allegory of Peace (1770), at the Getty Center, Los Angeles.
• Esther and Ahasuerus (1775-1780), at the Museum of Fine Arts of Quimper.
• Jupiter Transformed into a Bull Kidnaps Europe (undated), at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
• Thetis Receives Apollo (undated), at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
• Pygmalion and Galatea (1781), at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
• The Death of the Dauphin, Surrounded by his Family (1765), at the Palace of Fontainebleau.
• Saint John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos (1758), at Lyon Cathedral.

Lagrenée's diverse range of subjects and his consistent output demonstrate his versatility and the strong demand for his work throughout his career.

2.5. Tapestry Designs

Beyond his paintings, Lagrenée made significant contributions to tapestry art. In 1759, the administration royale_{Royal Administration}^French acquired a collection of his mythological subject designs for the Manufacture d'Aubusson. These designs include:

• Aurora Kidnapping Cephalus (cartoon whereabouts unknown).
• Jupiter Transformed into a Bull Kidnaps Europe (cartoon conserved at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris).
• Venus at the Forges of Lemnos (cartoon described by Denis Diderot in 1759, tapestry conserved at the Musée départemental de la tapisserie d'Aubusson_{Departmental Museum of Tapestry of Aubusson}^French).
• Boreas Kidnapping Orithyia (whereabouts unknown).
• Thetis Receives Apollo (cartoon conserved at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs_{Museum of Decorative Arts}^French, Paris).
• Mercury Brings Bacchus to the Nymphs of Nysa, also known as The Birth of Bacchus (tapestry conserved at the Mobilier National, Paris).

4.1. Artistic Achievements and Influence

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée's artistic achievements are evident in his mastery of historical and mythological subjects, often infused with a delicate charm and balanced composition characteristic of the Rococo style, while also showing a transition towards the more classical themes. His particular admiration for the Bolognese School, especially Francesco Albani, shaped his approach, leading to his enduring epithet, l'Albane Francais_{the French Albani}^French. As an educator and administrator, he profoundly influenced artistic training, guiding students at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture_{Royal Academy}^French, the Imperial Academy of Arts in Russia, and the French Academy in Rome. His efforts in these institutions contributed significantly to the development of art and art education in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, fostering new talent and maintaining high standards of artistic practice.

4.2. Criticism and Controversy

No significant criticisms or controversies surrounding Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée's work or career are widely documented. His career appears to have been consistently esteemed within the academic and court circles of his time.