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Alexandre François Desportes

1661-1743 France/Baroque

 

Brief Biography-Alexandre François Desportes from Champigneulle, Ardennes, was tutored by Nicasius Bernaerts, the Flemish painter of animals who was a disciple of Frans Snyders. He began painting portraits, most notably for John III Sobieski, King of Poland. When he went to London with the train of the Duke d’Aumont, who was ambassador to England for France, his paintings were well received, and he sold all works undertaken there. He subsequently returned to Paris, entered the Académie Royale, and won the favour of Louis XIV. He painted hunt scenes and animals for both Louis XIV and Luis XV. In 1704, he was made councillor at the Académie Royale. The royal patronage lasted almost fifty years. The painter of animals, Jean Baptiste Oudry, was the only other artist to rival his works in the genre for the period. His son, Claude Francois and his nephew Nicolas also became successful artists. Claude painted animals, and Nicolas converted to portrait painting under the tuition of Hyacinthe Rigaud.

 

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bonne nonne and
ponne of louis xIV

bonne nonne and ponne dogs of king louis the fourteenth

dog and a cat
fighting in a kitchen

dog and a cat fighting in a kitchen interior

dog guarding a
hunting trophy

dog guarding a hunting trophy

fruits flowers and
vegetables

fruits flowers and vegetables in a landscape

hunting dog sniffing
wild game wings

hunting dog sniffing wild game wings

pantry with
artichokes

pantry with artichokes cauliflowers and a basket of mushrooms

self portrait as
a huntsman

self portrait as a huntsman

still life of
a kitchen table

still life of a kitchen table

still life
of game

still life of game

still life
with ewer

still life with ewer

still life
with silver

still life with silver

the
stag hunt

the stag hunt

white dog in front
of an elderberry bush

white dog in front of an elderberry bush