Nicolas Lancret (1690 - 1743) was one of the most important painters of the French Rococo period, alongside his former fellow student and friend Jean-Antoine Watteau. Lancret admired Watteau so much that he left his first master Pierre d'Ulin in 1712, after about four years of apprenticeship, to join Watteau's teacher Claude Gillot. Gillot, one of the co-founders of Rococo, had a decisive influence on the later work of the young Lancret. Another important role was played by Watteau, who was six years older. The two painters were connected by a very close friendship. This bond was severed, however, when Lancret presented two of his works at the Exposition de la Jeunesse in Place Dauphine. The paintings were well received and were to lay the foundations for his later fame. But because they looked so similar to Watteau's style, many mistakenly congratulated him instead of Lancret.
Lancret often had to face the comparison to Watteau later on. For in many of his works, he, like Watteau, dealt with the genre of the Fêtes Galantes typical of the Rococo period. The central theme was often festive scenes such as balls, village weddings or fairs. Lancret found much recognition in this genre and was accepted at the French Academy in 1718. However, during Watteau's lifetime he never managed to outdo him in the so-called "Watteau genre". Only after his death in 1721 Lancret was able to become one of the leading masters together with Jean-Baptiste Pater. This is also reflected in his appointment as a council member of the Academy in 1735. Frederick the Great is said to have been a great admirer of Lancret's work.
Many of Lancret's paintings are now on display in museums around the world. The works from the last years of his creative work enjoy the highest popularity, such as "Winter" or "Mademoiselle Camargo dancing". Many consider one of his last works, "The Family in the Garden over Coffee" (1742), to be a masterpiece. Lancret himself remained unattached for most of his life and only married the 18-year-old granddaughter of the author Boursault in 1741. The marriage is said to have been less out of love than to help the young girl and her dying mother out of their plight. Only about two years later Lancret died of pneumonia.
Nicolas Lancret (1690 - 1743) was one of the most important painters of the French Rococo period, alongside his former fellow student and friend Jean-Antoine Watteau. Lancret admired Watteau so much that he left his first master Pierre d'Ulin in 1712, after about four years of apprenticeship, to join Watteau's teacher Claude Gillot. Gillot, one of the co-founders of Rococo, had a decisive influence on the later work of the young Lancret. Another important role was played by Watteau, who was six years older. The two painters were connected by a very close friendship. This bond was severed, however, when Lancret presented two of his works at the Exposition de la Jeunesse in Place Dauphine. The paintings were well received and were to lay the foundations for his later fame. But because they looked so similar to Watteau's style, many mistakenly congratulated him instead of Lancret.
Lancret often had to face the comparison to Watteau later on. For in many of his works, he, like Watteau, dealt with the genre of the Fêtes Galantes typical of the Rococo period. The central theme was often festive scenes such as balls, village weddings or fairs. Lancret found much recognition in this genre and was accepted at the French Academy in 1718. However, during Watteau's lifetime he never managed to outdo him in the so-called "Watteau genre". Only after his death in 1721 Lancret was able to become one of the leading masters together with Jean-Baptiste Pater. This is also reflected in his appointment as a council member of the Academy in 1735. Frederick the Great is said to have been a great admirer of Lancret's work.
Many of Lancret's paintings are now on display in museums around the world. The works from the last years of his creative work enjoy the highest popularity, such as "Winter" or "Mademoiselle Camargo dancing". Many consider one of his last works, "The Family in the Garden over Coffee" (1742), to be a masterpiece. Lancret himself remained unattached for most of his life and only married the 18-year-old granddaughter of the author Boursault in 1741. The marriage is said to have been less out of love than to help the young girl and her dying mother out of their plight. Only about two years later Lancret died of pneumonia.
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