A document dated December 1541 represents the earliest official record of François Clouet, detailing the French king's decision to grant the artist his father's estate. Born in Tours in 1510, Clouet emerged as a significant painter and draftsperson during the French Renaissance, following a career path that mirrored his father, Jean Clouet, in both court status and artistic function.
Early Career and Royal Appointments
Clouet trained under his father, Jean Clouet, a native of the Southern Netherlands, likely from the Brussels area. He inherited his father's nickname, Janet, which appears in various early historical sources. Like his predecessor, he held the titles of groom of the chamber and painter in ordinary to the king. His compensation structure for these royal roles effectively continued his father's previous salary arrangements.
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While numerous drawings and paintings are attributed to Clouet, no original documents provide definitive guarantees for these ascriptions. Traditional attributions include portraits of Francis I held at the Uffizi and the Louvre, as well as a portrait of Catherine de' Medici at Versailles. Notable works include the portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, located at the Bibliothèque Nationale, and portraits of Charles IX and Marguerite of France at Chantilly. His portrait of Elizabeth of Austria, housed in the Louvre, is considered his masterpiece and notably influenced the theories of Claude Lévi-Strauss regarding miniature models.
Court Duties and Final Years
Clouet performed specialized tasks for the monarchy, including creating death masks for both Henry II and Francis I. These masks assisted in preparing funeral effigies, church decorations, and ceremonial banners. In 1571, he provided expert testimony to the Court of the Mint concerning the king's likeness on struck portraits. Residing in the Temple quarter of Paris on the rue de Ste Avoye, he also worked under the patronage of Claude Gouffier de Boisy and his wife, Claude de Baune, by 1568. He died on 22 December 1572, leaving a will that provided for his sister and two illegitimate daughters, who subsequently entered religious life.
Fast facts
- Born: 1510, Tours
- Died: 22 December 1572, Paris
- Father: Jean Clouet
- Nickname: Janet
- Notable Works: Charles IX, Portrait of Henry II, Elizabeth of Austria
- Positions: Court painter, groom of the chamber
Questions readers ask
Did François Clouet work outside of France?
Yes, historical records indicate that he worked in both Paris and Flanders.
What evidence exists for Clouet's works?
There are no original attestations or documents that guarantee the ascriptions typically accepted by scholars, though a strong unbroken tradition of attribution exists.
Achievements
- Notable work: Charles IX
- Notable work: Portrait of Henry II
