Gabriel-Francois Doyen (1726 - 1806)

• Was a French painter who was born in Paris.
• He became an artist against his father's wishes.
• He became a pupil at the age of twelve of Charles-André van Loo.
• He obtained at twenty the Grand Prix de Rome, and in 1748 set out for Rome.
• He studied the works of Annibale Carracci, Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, Giulio Romano and Michelangelo, then visited Naples, Bologna and, crucially, Venice.
• While in the latter city Doyen was greatly influenced by the work of the famous colourists, such as Titian.
• In 1755 returned to Paris.
• It was completely successful, and procured him admission to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture.
• In 1773 Doyen painted his The Last Communion of St Louis for the high altar of the chapel at the École Militaire.
• Another notable work of this period in Doyen's life is the Triumph of Thetis for the chapel of the Invalides.
• In 1776 he was appointed professor at the Academy.
• During the initial stages of the French Revolution he became active in the national museum project; however in 1791 he left France for Russia on the invitation of Catherine II of Russia.
• He settled in St Petersburg, where he was much honoured by the Imperial family and Russian art establishment.
• He died there on 5 June 1806.
• Next