Philippe Mercier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philippe Mercier
John Faber the Younger, Philip Mercier, 1735, mezzotint after Mercier's untraced self-portrait, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Born	1689 Berlin, Brandenburg-Prussia
Died	July 18, 1760(1760-07-18) (aged 70–71) London, Kingdom of Great Britain
Education	Antoine Pesne
Known for	Painting and etching
Movement	Rococo
Patron(s)	Frederick, Prince of Wales

Philippe Mercier (also known as Philip Mercier) was an artist born around 1689 in Berlin, which was then part of Brandenburg-Prussia. His family had French roots. Mercier spent most of his career in England. He is known as one of the first artists to use the Rococo style. This art style was popular in the 1700s and featured light colors, playful themes, and delicate designs. Mercier's work helped inspire many English artists of his time.

The Life of Philippe Mercier

Philippe Mercier was born in Berlin, Germany, around 1689. His father, Pierre Mercier, worked with tapestries. Philippe studied painting at the Berlin Academy of Sciences. He also learned from a painter named Antoine Pesne.

Early Travels and Moving to London

After his studies, Mercier traveled through Italy and France. He then moved to London, England, probably in 1716. He got married in London in 1719 and lived in an area called Leicester Fields.

Working for Royalty

Mercier became a special painter for the Prince and Princess of Wales. He also worked as their librarian. During this time, he painted many portraits of the royal family. He also painted many important people from the nobility.

In 1728, he painted the Prince of Wales and his three sisters. These paintings were later made into prints by John Simon. In 1744, Mercier painted the Prince's three oldest children. This painting was called Playing Soldiers. It showed the children playing a game. Prince George was pretending to be a soldier. His brother and sister were also playing.

Later Years and Return to London

Around 1740, Mercier left London. He moved to York, where he continued to paint portraits for over ten years. He returned to London in 1751. In 1752, Mercier traveled to Portugal for some English merchants. He did not stay there long and soon came back to London. He passed away in London in 1760.

In 2016, one of Mercier's paintings, Portrait of a Lady (1744), was featured on a TV show called Fake or Fortune?. This show tries to figure out if paintings are real or fake.

Mercier's daughter, Charlotte Mercier, was also an artist when she was young.

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