Leonard Limousin (or Limosin) (c. 1505 – c. 1577) was a French painter, the most famous of a family of seven Limoges enamel painters, the son of a Limoges innkeeper.[1]
He is supposed to have studied under Nardon Pénicaud. He was certainly at the beginning of his career influenced by the German school. Indeed, his earliest authenticated work, signed L. L. and dated 1532, is a series of eighteen plaques of the Passion of the Lord, after Albrecht Dürer, but this influence was counterbalanced by that of the Italian masters of the school of Fontainebleau, Primaticcio, Rosso, Giulio Romano and Andrea Solari, from whom he acquired his taste for arabesque ornament and for mythological subjects. Nevertheless, the French tradition was sufficiently ingrained in him to save him from becoming an imitator and from losing his personal style.[1]
In 1530 he entered the service of Francis I as painter and varlet de chambre, a position which he retained under Henry II. For both these monarchs he executed many portraits in enamel—among them quite a number of plaques depicting Diane de Poitiers in various characters, plates, vases, ewers, and cups, besides decorative works for the royal palaces, for, though he is best known as an enameller distinguished for rich color, and for graceful designs in grisaille on black or bright blue backgrounds, he also enjoyed a great reputation as an oil-painter.[1]
His last signed works bear the date 1574, but the date of his death is uncertain, though it could not have been later than the beginning of 1577. It is on record that he executed close upon two thousand enamels. He is best represented at the Louvre, which owns his two famous votive tablets for the Sainte Chapelle, each consisting of twenty-three plaques, signed L. L. and dated 1553; La Chasse, depicting Henry II on a white horse, Diane de Poitiers behind him on horseback; and many portraits, including the kings by whom he was employed, Marguerite de Valois, the duc de Guise, and the cardinal de Lorraine. Other representative examples are at the Cluny and Limoges museums. In England some magnificent examples of his work are to be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Wallace Collection. In the collection of Signor Rocchi, in Rome, is an exceptionally interesting plaque representing Frances I consulting a fortuneteller.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Limousin, Léonard". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 700–701.
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January 01, 1970
léonard, limosin, leonard, limousin, saint, leonard, noblac, leonard, limousin, limosin, 1505, 1577, french, painter, most, famous, family, seven, limoges, enamel, painters, limoges, innkeeper, mosaic, giandomenico, facchina, limoges, town, hallbornc, 1505, li. For St Leonard of Limousin see Saint Leonard of Noblac Leonard Limousin or Limosin c 1505 c 1577 was a French painter the most famous of a family of seven Limoges enamel painters the son of a Limoges innkeeper 1 Leonard LimosinMosaic by Giandomenico Facchina Limoges town hallBornc 1505 Limoges Died1570s Limoges OccupationPainter glass painter engraver Bathers in the municipal museum of Chalons en Champagne He is supposed to have studied under Nardon Penicaud He was certainly at the beginning of his career influenced by the German school Indeed his earliest authenticated work signed L L and dated 1532 is a series of eighteen plaques of the Passion of the Lord after Albrecht Durer but this influence was counterbalanced by that of the Italian masters of the school of Fontainebleau Primaticcio Rosso Giulio Romano and Andrea Solari from whom he acquired his taste for arabesque ornament and for mythological subjects Nevertheless the French tradition was sufficiently ingrained in him to save him from becoming an imitator and from losing his personal style 1 In 1530 he entered the service of Francis I as painter and varlet de chambre a position which he retained under Henry II For both these monarchs he executed many portraits in enamel among them quite a number of plaques depicting Diane de Poitiers in various characters plates vases ewers and cups besides decorative works for the royal palaces for though he is best known as an enameller distinguished for rich color and for graceful designs in grisaille on black or bright blue backgrounds he also enjoyed a great reputation as an oil painter 1 His last signed works bear the date 1574 but the date of his death is uncertain though it could not have been later than the beginning of 1577 It is on record that he executed close upon two thousand enamels He is best represented at the Louvre which owns his two famous votive tablets for the Sainte Chapelle each consisting of twenty three plaques signed L L and dated 1553 La Chasse depicting Henry II on a white horse Diane de Poitiers behind him on horseback and many portraits including the kings by whom he was employed Marguerite de Valois the duc de Guise and the cardinal de Lorraine Other representative examples are at the Cluny and Limoges museums In England some magnificent examples of his work are to be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum the British Museum and the Wallace Collection In the collection of Signor Rocchi in Rome is an exceptionally interesting plaque representing Frances I consulting a fortuneteller 1 References edit a b c d nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Limousin Leonard Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 16 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 700 701 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leonard Limosin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leonard Limosin amp oldid 1221840790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
