Roger de Piles

Roger de Piles (Clamecy, October 7th 1635, - Paris, April 5th 1709).

Resulting from a Nevers-native family the notable provincial ones, Roger de Piles is born in Clamecy in 1635. He leads excellent studies to Nevers, Auxerre then with Paris. In this city, it follows the courses of painting of Claude Francois, known as Luc brother. In 1662, via Gilles Spares, he becomes tutor of Michel Amelot, wire of a president to the Great Council. At the end of the years 1660, its writings on art are worth a certain fame to him. When Michel Amelot is named ambassador with Venice in 1682, it chooses Piles as secretary. Returned to France in 1685, Roger de Piles is sent by Louvois to visit the Germany and the Austria. He accompanies then with the Portugal Michel Amelot, which was appointed ambassador plenipotentiary there. In 1688, Amelot obtains the neutrality of the Swiss cantons; piles signs with the treaty concluded in 1689 and to Louis XIV carries it. In 1692, Piles is in charge of a diplomatic mission in Holland, but is stopped with $the Hague and is imprisoned during five years. Released in 1697, it finds Parisian life. Collector of paintings and drawings, it belongs to the Parisian experts who judge quality and authenticity of a work. In 1699, it is received with the royal Académie of painting in the capacity as advising honorary. It devotes its last years to the writing and painting, and dies in Paris on April 5th, 1709. It is buried in Saint-Sulpice.

One knows of him only the Portrait of the marquis de Chenerilles , painted on copper, not signed and not dated, preserved at the museum of his birthplace, and an etching, neither signed nor dated, reproducing a portrait of Of Fresnoy due to the Brown one. Its painted portraits of Boileau, Household, François Tortebat and his self-portrait, are known only by prints carried out by famous engravers.

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