About the Artist

Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684 Valenciennes-1721 Nogent-sur-Marne) first learned his craft from the painter Jacques-Albert Gerin in Valenciennes. In about 1702 he went to Paris, where he earned his living with difficulty by making copies in the workshops of Notre Dame, and continued his training with Claude Gillot and Claude Audran III. These masters introduced Watteau to motifs pertaining to the world of the commedia dell'arte and the free technique of drawing arabesques. In 1709/10 Watteau lived in Valenciennes, returning afterward to Paris. In 1717 he was accepted into the Academie Royale de Peinture et Sculpture as a painter of fetes-galantes. By now highly in demand, Watteau worked in London in 1719/20. Considered one of the most important masters of 18th century French painting, Watteau's major works include Savoyarde with Ground Hog, c. 1707-1709, The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg; The Italian Comedy, c. 1718, Gemalegalerie, SMPK, Berlin; and The Hunting Party, c. 1720, Wallace Collection, London.