Le Brun, CHARLES

Le Brun, CHARLES, French historical painter, born in Paris, 24th February 1619. He was patronised in his youth by Nicolas Poussin, who took him to Rome, where he was kindly treated by the Barberini, and studied for four years. He then returned to Paris, and was employed by Fouquet on his château of Vaux, and afterwards by Cardinal Mazarin, Anne of Austria, and Louis XIV. He was the first director of the Gobelins Tapestry Works on its foundation by Colbert in 1662. For nearly forty years (1647-83) Le Brun exercised an immense and despotic influence over French art and artists, and is usually considered the founder of the French school of painting, Poussin being rather an Italian than a French artist. From 1668 to 1683 Le Brun was employed by Louis XIV., and given an absolutely free hand in the direction and management of the decoration of the palace of Versailles; but Mignard being favoured by Louvois on his accession to power, and the younger artist consulted by the king as to the completion of the work, Le Brun, who could brook no rival, retired, sickened, and died, 12th February 1690. See works by Genevay (1885) and Jouin (1889).