Page 15 - Jacques Blanchard - Myth and Allegory
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Blanchard’s first dated painting comes exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts,
from this intermediary period in Lyon, a Rennes in 1998, remains a reasonable attempt
Virgin and Child Giving the Keys to Saint Peter, to establish a system for dating.15 However, an
in the treasury of the Cathédrale Sainte- unfortunately large number of pictures are
Cécile, Albi, of 1628.13 It is not only known only through either engravings made
Blanchard’s earliest surviving dated work, it after, or through documented references, and
was his first major French commission.While still others have been added to the canon on
we can sense some Bolognese influence in the stylistic grounds. In theory, the most accurate
faces (and just possibly what might have definition of Blanchard’s output should be
remained of any influence le Blanc’s work possible by examining his signed and dated
may have had) in general, the picture is more works, but in practice, even these works
indebted to Venetian mannerism. In some indicate a highly nuanced development.
respects, this picture is fully mature and Nevertheless, without these dates, it would
should lead to the identification of earlier be virtually impossible to establish a
works. And yet, assured as thus work is there chronology on strictly stylistic grounds, and
is nothing in it that would directly suggest an at this point in our discussion a brief synopsis
artist on the brink of the kind of rapid and of Thuillier’s work in the context is
brilliant development Blanchard achieved appropriate, if not essential.
over the next ten years. During this period,
he produced several masterpieces of the After the Albi work, the next dated painting
baroque, paintings, while often inspired by is an Assumption of the Virgin, signed and
Venice, are nevertheless characterised by a dated: Blanchart [fecit?] 1629, in the Church
very individual freedom of brushwork, of of Saint-Léger, Cognac.16 This picture is still
composition, and great delicacy of surface. highly eclectic in its inspiration, the
strongest influence being that of Rubens,
At this point it should be noted that the whose work Blanchard would have known
chronology of Blanchard’s work in his brief both from his time in Rome, and more
career is not always clear, as he dated few of significantly, in Paris. Being a religious
his pictures, and only thirteen of these dated subject, the picture reveals none of the
works now survive, such as the exquisite artist’s sensuality and sensitivity towards the
Charité in the Courtauld Institute, London.14 female nude, which was to become such a
The chronology proposed by JacquesThullier hallmark of his work.
in his catalogue for the monographic
15
