Roger de Piles

Roger de Piles ( October 7, 1635 Clamcy, † April 5, 1709 in Paris) was a French painter, engraver, art critic and diplomat.

Biography

The family of Roger de Piles comes from the minor nobility from the Nivernais. He studied in Nevers, Auxerre and finally in Paris, where he (called frère Luc ), the painting courses of Claude François visited. Through the mediation of Gilles Ménage he will tutor in 1662 by Michel Amelot, the son of the President of the High Council ( Grand Conseil ). In the late 1660s he achieved a certain prestige with his writings about art. As Michel Amelot 1682 Ambassador in Venice was, he made de Piles to his secretary. After his return to France in 1685 Louvois sent him on trips to Germany and Austria. Then he accompanied Michel Amelot to Portugal, who had been appointed as General Representative. As Amelot 1688 could get the neutrality of the Swiss cantons, de Piles signed the contract concluded in 1689 and brings him to Louis XIV. 1692 he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Netherlands, but is arrested and jailed in The Hague 5 years. After his release in 1697 he resumes his life in Paris.

As a collector of paintings and drawings, he is part of the Parisian experts who evaluate the quality and authenticity of a work. In 1699 he was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Painting. He devoted his last years to writing and painting; he died on April 5, 1709 in Paris. His tomb is in the church of Saint- Sulpice.

We know of him only the painted on leather and not signed or dated " Portrait de M. de Chénerilles " and an unsigned and undated etching, which is a reproduction of a portrait of Du Fresnoy Le Brun. The portrait is on display at the Musée d'Art et d' Histoire Romain Rolland in Clamecy. His portraits are otherwise known only through engravings of famous engravers, made to templates of Boileau, Ménage, François Tortebat and a self-portrait.