Antoine Watteau
At a glance:
- Series: Dictionary of World Biography: The 17th and 18th Centuries
- Categories: Arts
- Subcategories: Artists, Artisans, Painting, Painters, Drawing
- Curriculum: 18th Century European History, French History
Article abstract: Watteau was one of the finest French painters of the early eighteenth century and was the originator and perhaps the most successful practitioner of the fête galante, the idealized, romantic representation of love and sexual liaison.
Early Life
Antoine Watteau was Flemish by birth, and he was born in Valenciennes, a border town between France and the Netherlands, which had been a Flemish city until 1678. His father may have been a roofer. In any case, Watteau came from a humble family, and there is nothing very certain about his early...
[The entire page is 2360 words long]