Jean-Antoine Watteau

Watteau, Jean-Antoine (1684–1721), French draftsperson and painter, strongly influenced by Peter Paul Rubens. A masterful colorist, he specialized in small, gay paintings called fêtes galantes (“elegant parties”) or fêtes champêtres (“country parties”). He also painted theater scenes. His works include The Embarkation for Cythera (1717), based upon a play of the day, and Gilles (c.l718).

See also: Rococo.