Nicolas Poussin

Born near Les Andelys[?], now in the Eure département, in Normandy, Poussin was the founder and greatest practitioner of 17th century French classical painting. His work symbolizes the virtues of clarity, logic, and order. It has influenced the course of French art up to the present day.

He spent most of his working life painting in Rome except for a short period when Cardinal Richelieu ordered him back to France as Painter for the King. A prolific artist, some of his many works are:

• Some of the paintings by Poussin at the Louvre, Paris:
  • Plague at Ashdod
  • The Judgment of Solomon (1649)
  • The Blind Men of Jericho (1650)
  • The Adulteress (1653)
  • Arcadian Shepherd

• A few of Poussin’s other paintings:
  • Adoration of the Golden Calf (National Gallery, London);
  • Holy Family on the Steps (National Gallery, Washington, D.C.);
  • Cacus (St. Petersburg);
  • The Testament of Eudamidas (Copenhagen);
  • Hebrews Gathering Manna (1639);
  • Moses Rescued from the Waters (1647);
  • Eliezer and Rebecca (1648);
  • Seven Sacraments (double series - Bridgewater Gallery, London).

Until the 20th century he remained the dominant inspiration for such classically oriented artists as Jacques Louis David and Paul Cezanne.

He died in Rome on November 19, 1665.