Le Nain facts for kids
The Le Nain brothers were three famous painters from France in the 1600s. They were Antoine Le Nain (born around 1600, died 1648), Louis Le Nain (born around 1603, died 1648), and Mathieu Le Nain (born 1607, died 1677). They were known for painting everyday scenes, portraits, and tiny miniature portraits.
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The Le Nain Brothers: Their Lives and Art
The brothers were born near a town called Laon in northern France. Mathieu was born in 1607. Antoine and Louis are now thought to have been born a bit later than first believed, around 1600 and 1603.
By 1630, all three brothers lived in Paris. They shared a painting studio that Antoine started. Antoine was allowed into the Paris painters' guild, which meant his brothers could learn from him without paying extra fees. Soon, they started getting important jobs, like Antoine painting a group portrait of the city leaders of Paris in 1632.
Early Paintings and Influences
At first, the Le Nain brothers painted religious scenes. Their style changed over time as they were influenced by other French artists. These included Philippe de Champaigne and Laurent de La Hyre. An Italian artist named Orazio Gentileschi also influenced their work in the 1630s. He had worked in Paris during the 1620s. An example of this is their painting The Holy Family (around 1635–1640).
Painting Everyday Life
Around 1640, the Le Nains became very interested in painting everyday scenes and people, especially peasants. In 1648, the three brothers were accepted into the Académie de peinture et de sculpture. This was the same year the famous art academy was founded.
It is often hard to tell which brother painted which picture. This is because their styles were very similar. They also signed their paintings only with their family name, "Le Nain." Many of their works might have been painted by more than one brother working together. Because of this, people often talk about them as one group, "Le Nain."
Louis is usually given credit for their most famous paintings. These are a series of scenes showing peasant life. He might have visited Italy and been influenced by a Dutch artist named Pieter van Laer. Van Laer lived in Rome but also traveled through France.
Unique Style and Subjects
These paintings of everyday life are special because they show things exactly as they are. Yet, they are also very kind and understanding. The people in the paintings never look silly or strange. Some people wonder if all the "peasants" were truly from the countryside. Many of them look more like city people enjoying time in the country.
Their paintings use calm colors and a serious style. This reminds some people of Spanish art. Their choice of subjects was unusual for their time. Most artists in Paris were painting stories about gods and goddesses or the king's heroic actions. But the Le Nain brothers focused on humble, everyday life. Examples include Peasant Meal (1642), Boys Playing Cards, and A Farrier in His Forge. All three of these paintings are now in the Louvre museum.
Their painting Adoration of the Shepherds in London is an exception to their usual subjects. Many other paintings for churches and cities might have been lost during the French Revolution. Ariane in Naxos is also different, as it shows the Greek god Bacchus and his lover Ariadne.
Portraits and Later Lives
The brothers also created tiny miniature paintings, mostly done by Antoine. They also painted larger portraits, which are usually thought to be by Mathieu. Mathieu became the official painter for Paris in 1633. Much later, he was made a chevalier, which is a special honor. He painted portraits of important people like Marie de Medici and Cardinal Mazarin, but these paintings seem to have disappeared.
Antoine and Louis both died in 1648. Mathieu lived until 1677. He seems to have kept painting until the mid-1650s, though he didn't sign any works after 1648. In 1662, he received a rare honor for a painter, the Order of Saint Michael. However, he was later removed from the Order and faced some trouble for wearing its special collar when he wasn't supposed to.
Rediscovery and Influence
The Le Nain paintings became popular again in the 1840s. Thanks to the efforts of a writer named Champfleury, their works were displayed in the Louvre museum in 1848. Champfleury was a friend of the Realist painter Gustave Courbet. He also wrote about French popular art.
The simple, honest style of these paintings, with their still poses and "awkward" compositions, was admired. Their focus on peasant subjects likely influenced many artists in the 1800s, especially Courbet himself. The Le Nain brothers' art has remained popular throughout the 1900s and beyond.
See also
In Spanish: Hermanos Le Nain para niños
