We discover Jean Fouquet, a French artist, in St Martin's church at Nouans-les-Fontaines, France
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
Rockingham, Australia
August 10, 2017 1:27pm CST
Have you heard of Jean Fouquet? We hadn’t but today we stopped to view the church of Saint-Martin in Nouans-les-Fontaines, central France. Behind the altar was a large painting by Jean Fouquet. We paid 2 euro to listen to an English explanation about the painting.
Fouquet was born in Tours around 1420 and died around 1481. Not much seems to have been known about him except that he was both a panel painter and an illuminator of manuscripts.
It is known that he visited Italy before 1447 and painted a portrait of Pope Eugene IV. He worked for the French court including Charles VII. He became court painter to Louis XI. Of interest in the painting, Pieta of Nouans’, is the figure in the right-hand side, believed to be the person who commissioned the painting. The commentator’s accent was so thick that we were battling to make out the words.
Fouquet was forgotten about at some stage but then rediscovered and is now recognised as an important figure in the French world of art.
Next door we were able to view more of Fouquet’s paintings and to read more about him. The church has had a lot of restoration work done and was very impressive. The photo is of the painting taken by Vince.
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13 responses
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
It is nicely displayed. We had trouble understanding the commentator's English but I think the experts at first thought it might have been painted by one of his students but when it was restored, 'it was generally agreed' and it is his own work.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74594)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Aug 17
@JudyEv You are having the time of your life, what a refreshing, historical writing! Viewing this church would be exciting. I've never heard of Fouquet, before reading this:)
3 people like this
We really just stopped to see the church but I'm pleased we found this as well.@kobesbuddy (74594)
• East Tawas, Michigan
11 Aug 17
@JudyEv I'd love to see that church, their structure is so breathtakingly beautiful!:)
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@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
@kobesbuddy The churches here are just so old. It is difficult not to stop and look at them.
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@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
10 Aug 17
beautiful painting - great place to visit
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@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
11 Aug 17
@JudyEv nice find to find that way
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@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
11 Aug 17
I love art so much and I love being in museums and galleries where I can just sit quietly and gaze at at until it speaks to me. Unfortunately, French Art and I have a translation problem! I can't pronounce the names or the names of the pieces, so I end up making up my own names for everyone and everything! Sometimes I guess I need someone with me who can help me say those beautiful French names and words so I can feel even that much more of the art coming through me!
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@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 17
That's some pretty good detail in that painting.
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@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
That's true - and today we went through the chateau where Da Vinci spent the last years of his life. Awesome stuff.
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
I hadn't but we were told about the lack of wounds, etc. And the white figure certainly is out of place. All artistic licence I guess.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
10 Aug 17
I have to confess never being enamored of religious themed artworks.
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