Winner of the Rome Prize, admitted to the Academy, he turned his back on the latter and history painting to concentrate on a more lighthearted style destined for connoisseurs' collections. During the Revolution, he was a member of the Conservatoire and Museum Commission.
Portrait of Denis Diderot.Executed shortly before 1769. Hippolyte Walferdin sale, 3 April 1880 (ndeg. 10). Baron de Beurnonville sale, 9-16 May 1881 (ndeg. 61). Count Daupias sale, 16-17 May 1892 (ndeg. 17). Léopold Goldschmidt Collection. Count André Pastré Collection between 1902 and 1931. Countess Charles de Vogüe Collection in 1934. Dation to the French State in 1972.
Philosopher and man of letters, Denis Diderot (1713-1784) took a vivid interest in the arts, as may be seen from his critical reviews of the Salons published between 1759 and 1781.
Paris, musée du Louvre (inv. RF 1972 14).
(C) Copyright Direction des Musées de France, 1994. Cliché Réunion des musées nationaux.