GREZ Jean-Baptiste (Greuze Jean Baptist)

(1725-1805)
He was born in Tournai, in Burgundy, August 21, 1725. He studied at the Lyon artist Sh Grandona, and then at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris, he soon attracted the attention of the public picture of the Father, explaining the Bible to his family. In 1755-1756 Grez traveled to Italy and painted in the Italian theme. Soon after returning to Paris he began to write genre scenes, which brought him his first success. After an unsuccessful attempt to become a member of the Academy of Grez never exhibited his paintings, but this did not prevent him from being a popular artist to the 1780's, when it eclipsed the classicism of Jean-L.Davida. Died Greuze in Paris May 4, 1805.
Popularity Dream based on the tastes prevalent in the second half of the 18 in. He wrote scenes from everyday life - a genre that has brought success J. BS Shardeni and initiated the vogue for collecting of Dutch genre paintings. Moralizing and sentimentality of Greuze associated with the ideas of Rousseau and Diderot. Usually he depicted a dramatic story in the form of a compact frieze of figures on an almost neutral background, carefully diversifying poses to express feelings and reactions of characters. Beauty of form is subject to a didactic purpose. Among the most characteristic paintings by Greuze - Piety, or the fruits of good education (1763, St. Petersburg, Hermitage), and a broken jug (New York, Metropolitan Museum).