Narcissus (Lemoyne)

He was elected first painter by Louis XV who entrusted him with the renovation of the Salon d'Hercule in Versailles.

At age 13, in 1701, he entered the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.

He studied there under the direction of Louis Galloche and remained there until 1713 despite being excluded from painting classes because of insolence (reinstated after an official apology).

He painted many religious subjects (he was entrusted with the decoration of the ceiling of the Jacobins church as well as that of Saint-Sulpice) but also mythological.

Very inspired by the great Italian masters (Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, Palma the old, Correggio…) he wished all his life to become their equal.