Jean Perréal facts for kids
Jean Perréal (born around 1455, died around 1530) was a super talented artist from France. He was known for painting amazing portraits for French kings and queens in the early 1500s. But he wasn't just a painter! Jean Perréal was also an architect, a sculptor, and even someone who decorated old books with beautiful pictures (called a limner of illuminated manuscripts). He worked mostly in France, but also traveled to Italy and London for his art.
Working for Royalty
Jean Perréal worked for some very important people. His main supporters were powerful French leaders like Charles of Bourbon, King Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Francis I. He even painted special shields (called escutcheons) for Charles of Bourbon when he visited the city of Lyon.
Some of his most famous artworks include a portrait of King Charles VIII, which you can see at the Musée Condé. He also made a tiny, detailed picture of a poet named Pierre Sala. Like Perréal, Pierre Sala was a royal helper, known as a valet de chambre. We even have a letter from Perréal to Margaret of Austria from around 1511. In the letter, he talks about whether marble or alabaster is better for sculptures. He signed it, "Jehan Perreal de Paris, your Valet de Chambre and unworthy painter."
Designing and Creating
Jean Perréal was also very good at designing many different things. He created plans for tombs, medals, and even theater stages. He also helped organize big events and ceremonies. One important event he designed was the wedding of King Louis XII to his second wife, Mary Tudor.
For this royal wedding, Perréal traveled to London in 1514. While he was there, he painted a portrait of Mary Tudor. He also created a special portrait of Louis XII, called Louis XII of France in Prayer. This unique painting was made using a special paint on glass and is now at the Walters Art Museum. As a sculptor, Perréal drew the designs for the tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. A French sculptor named Michel Colombe then built the tomb, which you can now see in the cathedral of Nantes.
Famous Paintings
In 1516, Jean Perréal painted a special picture called The Lament of Nature to the Wandering Alchemist (la complainte de nature à l'alchimiste errant). This painting is an allegory, which means it uses symbols to tell a story. In the painting, a winged figure representing Nature sits on a tree stump. The tree stump has cleverly shaped branches and a fire burning at its base. Nature is talking to an alchemist, who is a person trying to turn regular metals into gold. The alchemist is standing outside his stone laboratory by the water. New shoots are growing from the tree stump, forming a fancy, twisted chair back that looks like a two-story chair.
Perréal's art style was known for being elegant, like traditional French art. It also had a touch of Flemish realism, which means it looked very lifelike and detailed.
Selected Works
- 1498 - Portrait of Charles VIII, Oil, (Musée Condé, Chantilly)
- 1516 - The Lament of Nature to the Wandering Alchemist (la complainte de nature à l'alchimiste errant), miniature, (Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris)
- 1520 - Portrait of Mary Tudor, Oil on panel, (National Portrait Gallery, London)
See also
In Spanish: Jean Perréal para niños
