Art historian Jean-Claude Poinsignon will give a lecture on June 2 at 10:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the museum’s auditorium. Its title may surprise: “Antoine Watteau, French painter? “.
– Published: May 24, 2022 at 10:45 a.m.
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2 min
This conference will complete the cycle of Friends of the Museum in homage to Watteau on the occasion of the tercentenary of his death. On October 10, 1684, Jean-Antoine Watteau was baptized in Valenciennes but Antoine Watteau was baptized on May 6, 1676. Which of the two is the painter? This relevant question was asked by Michel Vangheluwe, former archivist of Valenciennes. However, it was on March 20, 1677 that Valenciennes capitulated to Louis XIV and became French. We therefore understand the reluctance of Parisian specialists in the face of our archivist’s thesis.
“Rebel at the Order of the Sun King”
The question is all the more legitimate since for the great Watteau exhibition of 1984 in Paris, two indisputable works from the Valenciennes collectionsthe portrait of Antoine Pater and “true gaiety”have not been exposed. Too Flemish! Not French! From the war paintings made around 1709 but also the Ensign of Gersaint and other documents relating to the history of Valenciennes, the historian will try to see if finally the painter of the “gallant festivals”, eminently “French”, was not also, and perhaps above all, a rebel to this political order imposed by the Sun King he wrote in his presentation.
Friends of the Museum: €5 Non-members: €7 Students: €2 (upon presentation of card)
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History Library and museum Painting Valenciennes (59300, Nord) Antoine Watteau
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