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Study of the Head of an Old Manby Jean-Baptiste Greuze
18" x 21" Framed Art Frame
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Study of the Head of an Old Womanby Jean-Baptiste Greuze
22" x 28" Framed Art Print Frame
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Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725 - 1805) was born at Tournus, Burgundy. He was a French genre and portrait painter who is said to have formed his own talent at an early age. His love of art was encouraged by a Lyonnese artist called Grondom against his fathers wish. Grandom not only persuaded Greuze’s father to permit the boy to accompany him as his pupil to Lyon but also prevailed upon him to give way to his son's wishes. At a later date when Grandom left Lyon for Paris, he carried the young boy with him. Once Greuze settled in Paris, he worked from the living model in the school of the Royal Academy. At first his work did not attract the attention of his teachers; and considerable doubt was felt when he produced his first picture. However, this did not deter him. He pushed hard and by more remarkable works of the same class, he soon established uncontestable claims, and won the notice and support of La Live de Jully, a well-known connoisseur and brother-in-law of Madame d’Epinay.
Towards the close of 1755, Greuze and Abbé Louis Gougenot left France for Italy. Louis had some acquaintance with the arts, and was highly valued by the Academicians, who elected him an honorary member of their body during his journey with Greuze. He was elected on account of his studies in allegory and mythology. Greuze himself did not gain much from this journey. From 1759 to 1763 Greuze exhibited with much success and this popularized his work. Currently, framed Jean-Baptiste Greuze art are much sought after by many leading collectors.