Clouet, Jean

(born c. 1485—died c. 1540, Paris, Fr.) French painter. He was chief painter to Francis I and produced many pastel portraits of members of the French court. Clouet was one of the best 16th-century portrait painters, both incisive and delicate in the psychological characterization of sitters. His drawings are simple, broad, and subtle; his paintings are fresh in colour, subdued in modeling, and minute in execution. He was celebrated in his lifetime as the equal of Michelangelo. His son François Clouet (c. 1515–72) took his place as official painter to Francis I in 1540.

Find more information on Clouet, Jean. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Clouet, Jean.