1. Nicolas Mignard spent most of his active life in Avignon creating religious and mythological paintings for religious institutions and stately homes but ended his career as court painter in Paris.
14 Facts About Nicolas Mignard
1. 2.
Nicolas Mignard was born in Troyes in 1606 as the son of Pierre and Marie Gallois.
3.
Nicolas Mignard was the older brother of Pierre Mignard, who became one of the leading French painters of the 17th century and a rival of Charles Le Brun.
4.
Nicolas Mignard studied painting with a local master of Troyes whose identity is unknown.
5.
Nicolas Mignard travelled subsequently to Fontainebleau where he copied the works of the Mannerist painters.
6.
Nicolas Mignard likely spent time in Paris where he is believed to have studied with Simon Vouet.
7.
Nicolas Mignard then spent some time in Lyon before moving to Avignon around 1633.
8.
Nicolas Mignard then traveled to Rome in the retinue of Alphonse-Louis du Plessis, the Cardinal Archbishop of Lyon and brother of Cardinal Richelieu.
9.
Nicolas Mignard came back to Avignon in 1636, after having executed several series of etchings in Rome, principally after the works of Annibale Carracci.
10.
When King Louis XIV and his Court visited Avignon on their way to the King's wedding with Maria Theresa of Spain, Nicolas Mignard was commissioned to paint portraits of various courtiers including Cardinal Mazarin.
11.
Nicolas Mignard joined the Academie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1663 without having to submit an admission piece.
12.
Nicolas Mignard became Professor and Assistant Rector of the Academie in 1664 and Rector in 1666.
13.
Nicolas Mignard was a supporter of Charles Le Brun in his conflict with his own brother Pierre.
14.
Many of the works of Nicolas Mignard that were thus confiscated were subsequently erroneously attributed to his brother Pierre.