Jacques d'Agar (1640–1715)

• Was a French portrait painter born in Paris.
• He was a pupil of Jacob Ferdinand Voet.
• He began his career as an history painter, but he soon abandoned history for portraiture.
• In 1675 he was admitted into the Academy.
• Also became painter in ordinary to the king and his court.
• Upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Agar, as a Protestant, was shut out from the Academy.
• He accordingly left France in 1682, never to return.
• He was invited to the court of Denmark, and was greatly patronized by King Christian V.
• He visited England, where he resided some time, and met with success.
• He painted the portraits of several members of the British nobility of Queen Anne's reign.
• A portrait of Charles II of England, by him, is said to have been formerly in the Gallery at Christiansburg.
• He died in 1716 in Copenhagen.
• His son Charles d'Agar also became a portrait painter.
• Next