Hubert Drouais

Drouais was born in Pont-Audemer in the Province of Normandy, the son of Anne Talon and the painter Jean Drouais. Hubert followed in his father’s footsteps and received his first lessons from him before leaving for Rouen to further his skills. He then decided to make it to Paris, although he was so poor that, unable to afford the cost of the trip, he had to work his way on the road to his destination. He devoted himself particularly to the portrait, and was the best pupil of the portraitist François de Troy, who is linked through his own master and through Rigaud to the grand tradition of Van Dyck. He soon acquired an ease that made him look like one of the first painters in this genre. His father’s approval and his countrymen’s encouragement were his rewards. He was involved in the genres of portraiture and miniature. He was in fashion at the court of Louis XV as a portraitist, painting not only princes and princesses, but the actresses of Comédie-Française and opera girls, like the Camargo, Mlle Gautier, Mlle Pelissier, the Gaussin, as well. Drouais was received at the Académie de peinture et de sculpture on November 29, 1730. He had two children with Margaret Lusurier whom he had married on February 22, 1727. His son François-Hubert, whose first master he was, and his grandson Jean-Germain were painters like him and in his old age he had the satisfaction to see his son also enter the Académie de peinture. He died in Paris.

Catherine Lusurier is recorded as having studied under Hubert Drouais. The recorded working language is French. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait. Places of work recorded in the authority are Paris. Work by Hubert Drouais is recorded in the collections of Museo del Prado, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, National Museum in Warsaw, Musée de l'Histoire de France and Musea Brugge.

• Robert le Lorrain (1666–1743) • Mademoiselle Marie Pelissier • Joseph Christophe (1662–1748) • Mademoiselle Gauthier, 1737 • Madame de France, 1741 • Monsieur le Vicomte de Courtenier, 1741 • Madame la Vicomtesse de Courtenier, 1741 • Madame Héry • Madame Courgy • Mademoiselle Gossin tenant un livre, 1746 • Mademoiselle Drouais, sa fille, tenant un chat, 1746 • Le Fils de l’auteur, 1746 • Monsieur Jacquemain tenant un crayon, 1746 • Mademoiselle ***, 1746 • Mademoiselle *** tenant des fleurs, 1746 • Demoiselle qui rit, 1746 • La Camargo. • The Dauphin Louis de Bourbon, Ca. 1744.

Hubert Drouais is recorded with the occupation visual artist. Recorded as a citizen of France. Classed in the genre portrait.