Evolution in Royal Portraiture During the French Renaissance

During the Renaissance, few could afford the services of a portrait painter; let alone a good one who would render their likeness in a life-like manner. Having one’s portrait done remained the exclusive domain of the wealthy and powerful, who used the medium as propaganda. During the Valois Dynasty of France, starting with King Francis I, two court painters, father and son Jean and François Clouet, revolutionized the relationship between the sitter and the viewer in a way that was unparalleled at the time. We explore how this father and son team changed the way we look at portraits, and how they look back at us.