Chardin - Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin

French painter. Spent his whole life in Paris. Studied under Pierre-Jacques Cazes and Noël-Nicolas Coypel, and in 1728, recommended by Largillière and others, he was accepted as a member of the Royal Academy and submitted "The Red Royce" (Louvre Museum). He mainly painted still lifes, and was praised for his realistic brushwork, strong composition, and quiet atmosphere, but his public work, such as the restoration of the Palace of Fontainebleau, was not very "satisfying," so he turned to Dutch-style genre paintings and portraits, and in particular, his genre paintings were praised for their French elegance and quiet composition. His masterpiece, "Prayer before Meals" (Louvre Museum), which he dedicated to Louis XV after being granted an audience with him in 1740, is one of his masterpieces. Until around 1770, he was highly renowned and lived a stable life, but in his final years he was in misfortune and, due to his weakening eyesight, he turned to pastel painting. His still lifes and genre paintings, praised by Diderot and others, can be said to be a magnificent combination of modernity and Rococo charm, a precursor to 19th century painting (such as Cézanne).

[Kimio Nakayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フランスの画家。生涯をパリに過ごす。ピエール・ジャック・カーズおよびノエル・ニコラ・コワペルに師事し、1728年、ラルジリエールらの推挙を得て王立アカデミー会員として認められ、『赤えい』（ルーブル美術館）を提出する。静物画を主として描き、その迫真的な筆力、強い構図、静かな雰囲気で評価を得たが、公の仕事は、フォンテンブロー宮の修復など、さほど「満足できるものではなかった」ため、オランダ風の風俗画、人物画に転じ、とくに風俗画では、フランス的な典雅さと静かな構成で評価を得た。40年ルイ15世に謁見を許されて献じた『食前の祈り』（ルーブル美術館）はその代表作。70年ごろまで彼の名声は高く、生活は安定していたが、最晩年は不遇であり、また視力の弱化によってパステル画に転じている。ディドロたちによって称揚された彼の静物画と風俗画は、19世紀の絵画（たとえばセザンヌなど）に先駆する近代性とロココの魅惑のみごとな合一であるといえよう。

［中山公男］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例