Hyacinthe Rigaud · 1659–1743
Hyacinthe Rigaud
Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743) was a French portrait painter. He served as court painter from the reign of Louis XIV into that of Louis XV, and is best known for his Portrait of Louis XIV, and his work is marked by a realism that extends to psychological portrayal.
Hyacinthe Rigaud was born in Perpignan in southern France and, after studying in Montpellier and Lyon, went to Paris. He soon won the Prix de Rome but, on the advice of Charles Le Brun, did not study in Italy. He then worked as a portraitist under Le Brun, painting the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy.
He served as court painter from the end of Louis XIV's reign into that of Louis XV, and his Portrait of Louis XIV (Louvre Museum) is the best known of royal portraits. His work is marked by a realism, influenced by Rembrandt, that extends to psychological portrayal, and late in life he served as director of the Academy. In Japan, Marquis Jean-Octave de Villars is held.
Hyacinthe Rigaud was born on July 18, 1659 and died on December 29, 1743.
