Portrait of Antoine de la Roque
アントワーヌ・ド・ラ・ロックの肖像
Jean-Antoine Watteau · c. 1718 · Oil
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A portrait of his friend Antoine de la Roque, painted by the 18th-century French artist Watteau around 1718, in the collection of the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Muses and a faun join the scene, giving the portrait the feel of a mythological painting.
- Artist
- Jean-Antoine Watteau
- Date
- c. 1718
- Medium / format
- Oil
About this work
In a clearing among trees, a man in a reddish-brown coat sits relaxed beside a tree, with a dog at his feet. On the right, nude women are gathered, and another figure peers out from behind them.
Antoine de la Roque, the sitter, was a friend of Watteau. After losing a leg in war, he made use of his literary talent and became editor of the journal Mercure de France and a librettist of operas. The musical instrument and books beside him are said to evoke this second life.
The muses and the faun on the right side of the picture create an allegorical, mythological atmosphere. The work is distinctive in being both a portrait of a friend and something close to a mythological painting. Watteau is regarded as the founder of the fete galante, and in 1717 he was admitted to the Royal Academy with Pilgrimage to Cythera (Louvre Museum).
Where can I see it?
Exhibitions change over time. Check each museum's exhibition information before you visit.
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Frequently asked questions
- Who painted Portrait of Antoine de la Roque, and when?
- Portrait of Antoine de la Roque is by Jean-Antoine Watteau, made in c. 1718. Medium: Oil.
- Where can I see Portrait of Antoine de la Roque?
- It is held by Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Exhibitions change, so check each museum's information before you visit.
Sources and references
- Tokyo Fuji Art Museum (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
- Japan Search (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
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