Jean Antoine Watteau Research Paper

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Jean Antoine Watteau was born October 10, 1684 in France. He was a French rococo artist in the 18th century during the Rococo art movement, which was when the interest of color and movement was a new career growth. Rococo painting was light, airy, frilly and bejeweled, which is fitting as it was intended for the powerful aristocracy and wealthy upper-middle class (Biography of Jean Antonio Watteau 2017). Watteau gained his love or interest in theater and ballet after studying with Claude Guillot who painted scenery for stages. Watteau enjoyed the curved lines and decorative nature scenes, which enhanced his love for the theater and fascination with design (artble.com). He developed a unique style of painting with an elegance, which he gained critical attention. He ignored society's previous expectations of the turgid life and embraced the lofty notion of people enjoying the freedom of their own lives and becoming one with nature (artble.com). Watteau …show more content…

He went to live a seclusion life style during his last remaining year of life Watteau continued to paint until his death, shortly after he painted figure 1 Mezzetin Watteau passed away at the age of 36 (Biography of Jean Antonio Watteau 2017). The painting of Mezzetin is an oil on canvas with the dimensions of 55.3 x 43.2 cm. The painting represents a stage setting, with a back drop behind the guitarist. There seems to be a statue of a women, with her back turned toward Mezzetin. He sits and plays his guitar with a solemn face as if he is hurting on the inside. His shoulders are turned in a way of longing or sorrow, his neck seems flushed, and it looks as if he might have a five o’clock shadow on his face. Watteau uses pastel colors with a neutral palette except for the head piece he wears on his head, along with the cloak draped over his shoulder are a bright pink or reddish

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