Jean Jouvenet

Jean Jouvenet, (born May 1, 1649, Rouen, France—died April 5, 1717, Paris), French Baroque painter remembered for his religious works—e.g., The Miraculous Draught of the Fishes—and for his decorative ceiling paintings in the chapels of Versailles and the Invalides.

Jouvenet was the most celebrated of a family of artists and was son and pupil of Laurent Jouvenet. On arriving in Paris in 1661 he attracted the attention of Charles Le Brun, by whom he was employed at Versailles. Under Le Brun’s auspices he became a member of the Royal Academy (1675), of which he was elected professor in 1681.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Naomi Blumberg, Assistant Editor.