The Ray and Le Buffet, presented by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin in 1728, served as the catalyst for his admission to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. Born in Paris in 1699, the artist spent his entire life in the French capital, crafting a body of work that favored domestic realism over the prevailing Rococo trends of his century.
Early Career and Training
Chardin received his artistic training as an apprentice under history painters Pierre-Jacques Cazes and Noël-Nicolas Coypel. In 1724, he achieved the status of master at the Académie de Saint-Luc. Early in his career, he found professional traction by displaying his work at an outdoor exhibition on the Place Dauphine, which caught the attention of Van Loo. By 1731, he began supplementing his income through restoration work, including the frescoes at the Galerie François I at Fontainebleau.
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For five decades, Chardin functioned as a dedicated academician, serving as treasurer, counsellor, and secretary. His service to the institution, which included organizing the Salon exhibitions starting in 1761, eventually limited his time for painting. Louis XV became a significant patron, granting the artist a studio in the Louvre Palace in 1757 and providing a pension that increased to 1,400 livres by 1770, at which time Chardin held the title of Premier peintre du roi.
Technique and Subject Matter
Moving away from the dominant history painting, Chardin focused on still lifes, domestic interiors, and genre scenes. His approach involved a deliberate, slow process, resulting in just over 200 known works. He was known for his granular impasto and soft light, capturing household items and the activities of children and kitchen maids. In his final years, struggling with failing eyesight, he transitioned to pastel portraits of himself and his wife.
Fast facts
- Born: 2 November 1699, Paris
- Died: 6 December 1779, Paris
- Occupations: Painter, visual artist
- Education: Académie de Saint-Luc
- Notable Works: The Ray, Le Buffet, Allegory of Music, Arts and Science
- Spouses: Marguerite Saintard, Françoise-Marguerite Pouget
- Notable Patron: Louis XV
- Mediums: Oil, pastel
Questions readers ask
Did Chardin leave France?
No, he lived in Paris for his entire life and rarely traveled outside the city.
What subjects did Chardin typically paint?
His work focused on still lifes, domestic interiors, and genre paintings featuring kitchen maids and children.
