Francois Clouet

François Clouet was a French Renaissance painter who specialized in portraits and miniatures. He was the son and successor of Jean Clouet, a Flemish painter who worked for the French court. François inherited his father's nickname 'Janet' and was sometimes referred to as such in early sources. He was groom of the chamber and painter in ordinary to the king, serving under Francis I, Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. He was praised by contemporary writers for his skill and accuracy in depicting the features and costumes of his sitters. He also made many drawings of the courtiers and nobles, some of which are now preserved in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. His most famous portraits include those of Francis I, Catherine de' Medici, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth of Austria, and Charles IX. He also painted some religious and mythological scenes, such as A Lady in Her Bath (possibly depicting Diane de Poitiers or Mary Queen of Scots) and Le Billet Doux. He died on 22 December 1572, shortly after the massacre of St Bartholomew, and left a considerable amount of property to his sister and his two daughters. His style influenced many later portraitists, such as François Quesnel and Nicolas de Largillière.