Nicolas Poussin Essay Example For Students

Nicolas Poussin Essay Pictori philosopho (Blunt, 3), Painter-philosopher was a name given to Nicolas Poussin by Serous d Agincourt in 1782. Agincourt later found out that the name Pictori philosopho had already been given to the German artist Anton Raphael Mengas. Nicolas Poussin was born in 1594 in the town of Les Andelys on the Seine. He came from a nobel family that was ruined by religious wars according to Giovanni Pietro Bellori. No actual proof of this has been established his father Jean Poussin was said to have had some descent of the hierarchy. His mother was the daughter of an alderman. His father served in the military under the command of Charles IX, Henry III, and Henry IV were he came home with a small holding and led the life of a peasent. Education in Les Andelys was not that of high caliber top notch schooling, but early biographers report that Poussin learned Latin. The visit of a painter to Les Andelys by the name of Quentin Varin greatly affected Poussin in the early years of his life. The affect of Varins short visit to Les Andelys so greatly affected Poussin that he left home that same year. He crept secretly out of the house without the knowledge of his parents.(Blunt, 13)Upon departure of his home in Les Andelys he traveled to the province capital of Rouen. Once in Rouen he studied for several years under Noel Jouvenet who lived in Rouen at the time. According to biographer Bellori, Poussin arrived in Paris, France in the year 1612, at the latest 1613. There is not much information on the time of Poussins life that he left Rouen and the time that he arrived in Paris. Once in Paris he met a man from Poitou who offered his home to Poussin and treated him with great kindness. Poussin was set to decorate his chateau, but due to the interference of a mother-in-law the project was hung out to dry. This left Poussin, The young artist found himself without money and three hundred miles from Paris. (Blunt, 13) He then began the long trek to Paris on foot; he supported himself by painting in small towns that he passed through. He arrived in Paris so ill that he returned to Les Andelys, where he spent a year recovering from his illness. After a years rest Poussin returned to Paris where he built a name for himself as a reputable artist. He made many friends who helped him get started on the road to success. Before the end of 1623 Poussin finally left Paris insight of a new start in a new city. At the age of thirty Poussin left Paris for Rome, Italy. Poussin arrived at his destination in March of 1624. During his journey he made a short stop in Venice. In Rome Poussin met painter Marcello Sacchetti on of the active patrons of the arts in Rome. During his first couple of years in Rome Poussin stayed in various homes. In 1629 he took shelter with Jacques Dughet, a French cook, and his family. Jacques and his family took care of Poussin when he suffered from what is called mal di Francia.(Blunt, 55) After several years were spent recovering from his illness Jacques gave his daughter Anne Marie to Poussin in marriage. The ceremony toke place on September 1, 1630 in the city of Lucina. Jacques Dughet had two sons named Gaspard and Jean, who were artist and worked under the supervision of their brother-in-law. Gaspard was so inspired by Poussin that in the later years of his life he took the name of his great teacher Gaspard Poussin. During this time Poussin kept company with many painters who he was to keep a close friend ship for many years. He lived close to many painters and sculptors of the time. Among these was Jean Lemaire, who later worked with Poussin on the execution of the Long Gallery in the Louvre from 1640 to 1642. While in Rome Poussin dressed as a Frenchman, until hostile Romans attacked him due to the anti-French sentiment at the time. He saved his hand by blocking a blow with a portfolio he was carrying. This caused him to change his dress and adopt that of the Romans. Although Poussin had received some training in Paris he took up school again in Rome. Poussin studied anatomy, geometry, and perspective while going to school in Rome. In the years of 1629 to 1630 Poussin was affected by the same illness that affected him when he first went to Rome, evidently syphilis (Hibbard, 21). It was a hard time for Poussin who was also bothered by an incident that took place in 1630. San Luigi dei Francesi decide that the decoration of the chapel of the Virgin should be completed. It was started by Giovanni Baglione and not completed due to the painters loss of most of his eyesight (Blunt, 100). Three artist names were mentioned: Lanfranco, Charles Mellin, and Poussin. After much discussion about the selection Mellin was awarded the job. What made the defeat more appalling was the fact that Domenichino, an artist whom Poussin might have thought to vote in his favor, voted against him.Sometime later Poussins painting found their way to Paris. These painting made such an impression that in 1639 he was invited to enter the service of Louis XIII. Poussin couldnt decide whether to go or not, so in late 1640 he was commanded to re turn to France because legally he was still a citizen of France. Accompanied by a friend Paul Freart, who later became one of his closest friends and patron, he arrived in December of 1640 (Hibbard, 23). He was employed to decorate a vault of a long gallery in the Louvre, a job he was unprepared for. Poussin was hated by most of the French artist. Later that year he asked to return to Rome to close his home and to bring back his wife, which he had carefully left behind. Upon arriving in Rome Poussin decide that he would not return to Paris due to all the confusion in the city and stayed in Rome where he found peace and tranquility. Polar Vs. Brown Bear EssayDuring this time Poussin kept company with many painters who he was to keep a close friend ship for many years. He lived close to many painters and sculptors of the time. Among these was Jean Lemaire, who later worked with Poussin on the execution of the Long Gallery in the Louvre from 1640 to 1642. While in Rome Poussin dressed as a Frenchman, until hostile Romans attacked him due to the anti-French sentiment at the time. He saved his hand by blocking a blow with a portfolio he was carrying. This caused