THE LIFE

OF

JEAN BAPTIST GREUZE.

THERE are painters, who have acquired renown by some attractive novelty of style, effect, or subject; or, by the infusion of some peculiar grace, or charm of expression into their works; among the latter class may be enumerated the artist we have above named, whose works have recently acquired a reputation, which, whether conventional or not, has placed them, with respect to value, with those of the first masters.

He was born at Tournois, near Maçon, in 1726, and is said to have had no other guide than his own genius, in the acquirement of the art. The author of a biographical and historic dictionary, published at Paris, in 1822, observes, that although he had no acknowledged master, yet, for the sake of correctness, it should be added that Grandon, father-in-law of the celebrated Grétry, perceiving the favourable disposition of the youth for the arts, took him to Lyons, and gave him a few practical lessons, by which he was enabled to paint portraits; he afterwards accompanied his friend

to Paris, where he for some time experienced severely the difficulties and privations too often attendant on genius; he however pursued unremittingly his profession, and was a regular attendant at his academical studies; while thus engaged, he produced an excellent picture of the Pious Father reading the Bible to his Children; this work received the warmest commendations of the professor of the academy, and was the admiration of other judges of art.

Whether from the suggestions of his friends, his own choice, or the censures of the envious, who are said to have reproached him for the triviality of his style of drawing, and his ignorance of the antique, he undertook a journey to Rome, for the purpose of correcting these defects; in this attempt, Greuze, like many others, evidently mistook the real bent of his genius, for after labouring for some time, he at length discovered that nature had destined him for those simple delineations of real life, which he had originally chosen, he therefore returned with pleasure to a pursuit so well adapted to his taste, and painted in succession, a number of interesting pictures, illustrative of moral virtues, domestic occupations, and familiar events; to these he added many beautiful productions, consisting chiefly of the busts of youths, young females, and infants. In the representation of such subjects, he had the happy facility of expressing the passions and sentiments peculiar to the character and sex of the person depicted; his wife and daughters being in general the models from which he painted.

He died at Paris, in 1805, aged 79, leaving two

daughters, one of whom, named Anna, inherited a taste for the arts, and pursued successfully the style of her father's works. He had also a scholar, of the name of Caroline de Valery, who in the warmth of her affection attempted to honour him by the following epitaph :

"Ci git Greuze, peintre enchanteur

De l'art, par une route sure

Il sut atteindre la hauteur,

Et rivaliser la nature."

Greuze, in all his pictures, has the estimable merit of having most successfully portrayed the subject represented, and given a lively and suitable expression to the several persons which compose it; such, for instance, as the Charitable Lady, the Marriage Portion, the Malediction, the Distribution of the Chaplet, the Gâteau du Roi; and among those of his single figures may be noticed, St. Mary of Egypt, the Offering of Love, the Penitent of Thébiade, the Girl with a Dog, the Milk Girl, the Kiss Sent, the Girl with a Basket of Eggs, La Cruche cassée, and La Prière du Matin.

THE

WORKS

OF

JEAN BAPTIST GREUZE.

1. A PORTRAIT of the Artist, consisting of the head only, represented in a profile view. Engraved by Flipart. 2 ft. 4 in. by 2 ft. 2 in.-C. (about.)

2. A Portrait of the Artist when upwards of fifty years of age, seen in nearly a front view: he is exhibited in his working dress, consisting of a coat and waistcoat, and a cravat tied loosely round his neck. Engraved in the Musée Français.

Now in the Louvre.

A Portrait of the Artist was sold in the collection of M. de la Live de Jully, 1769, for 300 fs., 12l.

3. The Toy. A little peasant girl, of a most engaging countenance, seated in a chair and leaning forward on a table amusing herself with a toy dressed up like a monk. Engraved by P. C. Ingouf.,

1 ft. 4 in. by 1 ft. 2 in.-C.

Collection of M. de la Live de Jully, 1769.

4. Le Petit Boudeur. A fine chubby boy with light hair, sitting with sulky looks by the side of a little table, on which is an apple. Engraved by Guttenburg.

1 ft. 4 in. by 1 ft. 2 in.-C. Collection of M. de la Live de Jully,

M. Trouard,

1769.

320 fs. 131.

Imported by the Writer in 1831, and sold to E. W. Lake, Esq.

5. Le Petit Désignateur. A fine boy with long flaxen hair, and wearing a light dress, sitting at a table, on which he leans both arms, holding a pencil or portcrayon in his hand. 1 ft. 8 in. by 1 ft. 4 in.-C.

Collection of M. Julienne,

1767. .

180 fs.

77.

6. A Girl pensively meditating over a Cross. 1 ft. 5 in. by 1 ft. 2 in.-C.

Collection of M. Julienne,

1767..

634 ts

251.

7. A Pair. Busts of Young Females, one of which repre

sents Modesty.

1 ft. 9 in. by 1 ft. 5 in.-C.

Collection of M. de la Live de Jully, 1769. . 4800 fs. 1927. The latter picture, "Modesty," was sold separately in the collection of M. Le Bœuf, 1782. . 2982 fs. 1197.

8. A Pair. Busts of Young Women.

1 ft. 5 in. by 1 ft. 1 in.-C.

Collection of M. de la Live de Jully,

VOL. VIII.

2 D

1769. . 2800 fs. 1127.