François de Troy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François de Troy
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Portrait of Troy from 1703 by his student and Academy member Alexis Simon Belle
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| Born | February 1645 Toulouse, France
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| Died | 1 May 1730 (aged 85) Paris, France
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| Known for | Painting |
| Patron(s) | Courts of James II of England and James Francis Edward Stuart in exile, French court |
| Director of the Académie de Peinture et de Sculpture | |
| In office 1708–1711 |
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| Monarch | Louis XIV |
| Preceded by | Jean Jouvenet |
| Succeeded by | Corneille Van Clève |
François de Troy (born February 1645 – died May 1, 1730) was a famous French painter and engraver. He became the main painter for King James II when the king was living in exile. He also became the Director of the important Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in France.
Contents
Early Life and Family
François de Troy was born in Toulouse, France, in February 1645. His family was full of artists! His father, Antoine Troy, was a painter in Toulouse. François also had a brother, Jean de Troy, who was a painter too.
François learned how to paint from his father. He might have also learned from another artist named Antoine Durand.
It's important not to confuse François de Troy with his son, Jean-François de Troy. His son also became a famous portrait painter and learned from his father.
Becoming a Painter
After 1662, François de Troy moved to Paris. There, he studied how to paint portraits with artists like Claude Lefèbvre and Nicolas-Pierre Loir.
In 1669, Troy married Jeanne Cotelle. She was the sister-in-law of his teacher, Nicolas-Pierre Loir.
In 1671, the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture accepted him as a member. By 1674, he officially joined the Academy as a history painter. For this, he created a special painting called Mercury cutting off the head of Argus.
Some of Troy's first known artworks include designs for tapestries. These were for Madame de Montespan, who was close to Louis XIV of France, the King of France. He also painted religious and mythological scenes.
A Successful Portrait Artist
In the 1670s, Troy became friends with Roger de Piles. This friendship helped him learn about Dutch and Flemish painting styles. After his teacher Claude Lefebvre passed away in 1675, Troy decided to focus on portrait painting. He wanted to get commissions from Lefebvre's old clients.
In 1679, he was asked to paint a portrait of the Swedish ambassador, Nils Bielke. In 1680, he painted Maria Anna Victoria of Bavaria. She had just married Louis of France, who was the heir to the French throne.
Troy became very successful at painting portraits of individuals and groups. His clients included important people like Madame de Montespan and her children with the king.
Because of these important jobs, Troy worked for the royal court for almost 50 years. People admired his skill in showing the upper classes and their interest in manners and fashion. Many also said he could make any woman look beautiful, which made him very popular.
Working for Royalty
In the 1690s, François de Troy became the main painter for King James II. King James was living in exile in Saint-Germain-en-Laye at the time. During this period, Troy taught Alexis Simon Belle, who became one of his best students.
Between 1698 and 1701, there was peace between France and Great Britain. This meant that supporters of King James II could travel across the English Channel. They often carried portraits of James Francis Edward Stuart and his sister Princess Louisa Maria. Troy was the only court painter for James II then. He needed Belle's help to create all the portraits people wanted.
In 1698, Troy became a Professor at the Royal Academy. In 1708, he was chosen to be its Director.
Besides painting, Troy was also an engraver. One of his engravings shows the funeral of Maria Theresa of Austria in 1683. She was the wife of King Louis XIV.
Some of Troy's other students included André Bouys and John Closterman.
François de Troy passed away in Paris when he was 85 years old.
Famous Works
François de Troy painted many portraits. Here are some of his well-known works:
- Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, painted in 1690.
- Lady Mary Herbert, Viscountess Montagu, shown as Diana, around 1692.
- Jean de la Fontaine.
- Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646–1708).
- Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729).
- Princess Louisa Maria Stuart (1692–1712), painted around 1705.
- Portrait of a couple as Venus and Paris, painted in 1691. This painting is now in the Louvre museum.
Gallery
- Paintings by François de Troy
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Princess Louisa Maria Stuart, about 1705 -
Portrait of a young boy with a dog -
The Feast of Dido and Aeneas, 1704 -
Charles Mouton, 1690 -
Friedrich Baron de Knabenau,1670 -
The Dauphine of France, after 1690
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The Count of Brionne's wife, Marie Madeleine d'Epinay and son the Prince of Lambesc, 1697
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The Duchess of La Ferté-Senneterre with the Duke of Anjou on her lap and the Duke of Brittany, 1710
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Portrait of a mulatto in armour(c1680-1730
Images for kids
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French Noblewoman Louise Françoise de Bourbon completed in 1690
See also
In Spanish: François de Troy para niños
