Charles Le Brun Biography

Charles Le Brun trained painting under some of the leading artists of the seventeenth century, including Nicolas Poussin and Simon Vouet. Le Brun was commissioned in the 1650?s by minister of finance, Nicolas Fouquet to decorate the chapel at his chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte. After completing the project, Le Brun?s name was known and not long after in 1660, he was summoned to Fontainebleu by King Louis XIV. Le Brun was later given the title of First Painter to the King. Le Brun was appointed as director of the Gobelins tapestry manufactory where he used his influence to expand the clientele of the business into all the royal houses in Europe. He also worked as a painter and designer at Fontainebleu, the Louvre, and Versailles.