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.