Jean etienne liotard biography of williams county

He initially studied miniature and enamel painting there, and was apprenticed briefly to Daniel Gardelle (–.

He is best known for his detailed, strikingly naturalistic portraits in pastel , and for the works from his stay in Turkey. A Huguenot of French origin and citizen of the Republic of Geneva , [ 2 ] he was born and died in Geneva , but spent most of his career in stays in the capitals of Europe, where his portraits were much in demand.

Liotard was born in Geneva. His parents were French Protestants who had fled to Geneva after Liotard visited Istanbul and painted numerous pastels of Turkish domestic scenes; he also continued to wear Turkish dress for much of the time when back in Europe. Using modern dress was considered unheroic and inelegant in history painting using Middle Eastern settings, with Europeans wearing local costume, as travellers were advised to do.

Many travellers had themselves painted in exotic Eastern dress on their return, including Lord Byron , as did many who had never left Europe, including Madame de Pompadour. His eccentric adoption of oriental costume secured him the nickname of the Turkish painter. He went to Vienna in to paint the portraits of the Imperial family.

Still under distinguished patronage [ citation needed ] he returned to Paris. He went to Holland in , where, in the following year, he married Marie Fargues. In he painted portraits in Vienna, including Marie Antoinette ; in in Paris. Another visit to England followed in , and in the next two years his name figures among the Royal Academy exhibitors.

He returned to his native town in In his last days he painted still lifes and landscapes. He died at Geneva in