The Annunciation SIMON VOUET c. 1640

 

Born in 1590, Simon Vouet died in 1649; he was not only a French painter, but a draftsman.

"In his time the art of painting began to be practiced here in a nobler and more beautiful way than ever before," wrote a contemporary about Simon Vouet. After years in Italy, Vouet was the impetus for a reawakening of French art. Trained by his sign-painter father, fourteen-year-old Vouet painted a portrait in England and accompanied France's ambassador to Constantinople in 1611. He lived in Italy from 1613 to 1627, mostly in Rome, but he also visited Venice, Naples, Bologna, and Genoa. Initially inspired by Caravaggio, Vouet also assimilated Italian Mannerism, Titian and Paolo Veronese's lyricism, and the art of Carracci, Guercino, and Guido Reni. Famous and respected, he was president of Rome's Accademia di San Luca.

Recalled to France by Louis XIII, Vouet dominated Paris, painting altarpieces and religious works for churches and illusionistic decorations for private home and public buildings, most of which have been destroyed. With Vouet, the French Baroque style was born incorporating Philippe de Champaigne's cool color, Nicholas Poussin's classical style, and Venetian painting's rich color. Vouet taught a generation of painters, including Eustache Le Sueur and Charles Le Brun. 

Every April and September we feature an Annunciation Gallery; this image is exhibited here only.





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