In short

There exists in French Baroque painting from the first half of the 17^th century just a few similar allegorical female figures, either given in full to Jacques Linard or attributed to him. Linard is above all known as a Parisian still life specialist.

Our series is complete and unique; I do not know of any similar set of French allegorical paintings dating from the Early Baroque period.

About Jacques Linard

French painter
Troyes 1597 – 1645 Paris

Important still life painter. Less than 50 paintings are known by him.

It is not known whom Linard studied painting with. He must possibly have studied under his father, who was also a painter; there are records of some minor works by him in churches in Troyes.

From 1621 onwards Jacques Linard is documented in Paris for the rest of his life.

He got married here in 1626. The couple had four children: three boys, who died at a young age, and a girl.
That same year he took his 14 years-old nephew, Nicolas Baudesson (1611 – 1680), who was also born in Troyes, as a pupil for five years. Baudesson also became a still life painter; between 1632 and 1666 he was active in Rome, before returning to Paris.

In 1631 Linard is mentioned as Valet of the King’s Chamber (of King Louis XIIs I), which testifies to his fame and esteem that he aroused during his lifetime. Linard is known to have been well connected with famous contemporary painters, such as Claude Vignon, whose wife was the godmother of his son François.

About our set of four paintings

Two of our paintings bear an inscription: “Meridies” (Midday) and “Vesper” (Evening). So it soon became clear that our set of four represents the four moments of the day. Needless to say that such a complete set is rare.

Our painter has chosen four Classical goddesses to represent these four moments of the day. 

• The first painting represents Morning with the goddess of Sunrise, of dawn. Her Greek name was Eos, her Roman name Aurora.
• The second painting with the symbol of a hart and two loving doves represents Midday with the goddess of Love, Aphrodite for the Greeks, Venus for the Romans.
• As to the third painting it represents the Afternoon with the goddess of Hunt, her Greek name is Artemis, her Roman name is Diana.
• The fourth painting represents the Evening. A goddess with a falcon must refer to Circe, Greek goddess of magic, who was born with a strange voice, making the sound of a squawking bird, hence her name that means “hawk” or “she-falcon”.

Why should you by these paintings?

Because it represents a unique and very decorative, complete set of 4 allegories of daytime, pictured by four Classical goddesses.