Fragonard.

Fragonard. JEAN HONORÉ, painter, was born at Grasse in 1732. He studied under Chardin and Boucher; and, entering the academy schools, gained the 'prix de Rome' in 1752. In Italy—which, later, he revisited—he was influenced mainly by the works of Tiepolo, the last of the great Venetians; and he executed many illustrations for Saint-Non's Voyage de Naples et de Sicile. Returning to France, he in 1765 received 2400 francs from Louis XV. for his 'Callirhoë,' commissioned for reproduction in Gobelins tapestry; then he ceased to be academic, and began to be personal, to follow his true bent—helped to be most himself by the art of Venice and by the art of Rubens. He painted, with a loose touch and luscious colouring, genre pictures of contemporary life, or of scenes which, however titled, drew their inspiration from present actuality, from humanity seen and observed by the painter himself. To these his ardent and sensuous southern temperament gave both force and charm. He is also known by his landscapes. He is well represented in the Louvre, most typically in its La Caze collection by such works as 'Bacchante Endormie' and 'La Chemise Enlevée.' He died in Paris, 22d August 1806.