The artist who created an idol for himself and for this, did not become an idol himself

I will continue my little excursions. That's right, it's the work of a master named Charles Joseph Wattle. He is a Belgian, you may not be able to tell from this work, but he is known as a brilliant portraitist. He studied at the Academy of fine arts in Brussels. Exhibitions in Brussels, Paris and so on. 

But he was, indeed, a most incredible portrait-painter; but the strangest thing, and, by the way, partly connected with this work, is not in his skill, but in his name and affection. I'll try to explain. 

I do not know whether he was really named after Charles Joseph Natoire or not, but he claimed so and all his life literally worshipped this one of the most famous Frenchmen of the Rococo era. Natoire was the Director of the French Academy in Rome, and in General-he was one of the greatest French painters, decorators and graphic artists of his time. But under this, scenes, which glorified Natuara-this were scenes from ancient mythology, Ah and so as this was Rococo-the there was all very frankly and invitingly. Ah if that-witness here is his "Venus seducing Aeneas, behind have Volcano" or utterly Frank "Psyche for toilet." And most importantly, behind all these Psyche and Venus are quite a living models – because you know that before artists, in their wretchedness, did not draw "from the head." One of Natoire's principal models was the Duchesse de Soubise. And the Rogans, though always known as freethinkers, were peers of France, princesses and princes. And after the Duchess appeared as psyche in the eight monumental panels from the history of Cupid and psyche that adorn the walls of the "Oval salon" in the Soubise hotel in Paris, Natoire began to have problems. But after a few years he somehow got out, he kept his fame, and even added to it a few salon stories. 

And so, the brilliant portrait painter Charles-Joseph Wattle really wanted something like this. And constantly drew something from ancient mythology. Here is how on this " Grape wreath." But age already was not the, Princess and Duchess him not posed and he so and remained – an excellent portraitist with two medals Paris salon, umudrivshemsya why something write still and great many very candid antique scenes.