Jean-Baptiste Deshays, 1729-1765

Lauded by Diderot as “the main painter of the Nation”, Jean-Baptiste Deshays became quickly a full academician. Trained by François Boucher, he became famous at the exhibition of 1759 with his painting Saint André refusant d'adorer les idoles. Admired by critics and amateurs, he had received a lot of important public orders when he felt off a ladder and died at 35 years old. He painted religious scenes but let also a lot of valued drawings. His portraiture with intense expressions and obscure style are signs of the advent of romanticism.