GREUZE, grez, JEAN BAPTISTE ( 1725-1805). A French genre painter. He was born at Tournus, in Burgundy, August 21, 1725. His talent was recognized and encouraged by the Lyonnese painter Gromdon, who taught him and took him to Paris. There Greuze studied in the schools of the Academy, and attracted attention by his first picture, "A Father Explaining the Bible to His Children." His succeeding works placed him at the head of the French genre painters of the day. Moved by the taunts of the Classicists, he' went to Rome in 1755, but his visit exercised little influence upon his art. He sent an unfortunate historical painting, "Severus and Caracalla," for admission to the Academy, and was admitted, but expressly as a genre painter. He returned in anger, and did not ex hibit until after the Revolution, in 1804. In the meantime he had lost his wealth, and he died in poverty in Paris, March 21, 1805.
Greuze's art represented a reaction from the artificial art of the Rococo. He succeeded espe
cially well with young girls. His manner was somewhat affected, but he was a fine colorist, and executed his works with great finish. His portraits of women and children are very beauti ful, but he was not always successful in por traying the best expression of his sitters. A follower of Watteau, his work is charmingly picturesque, although too sentimental to be al together pleasing.
The Louvre contains a number of his chief works: the "Village Marriage," the "Father's Curse," the "Son Punished," the "Broken Pitcher," besides portraits of the artist and other persons. Other works are in nearly all the chief galleries of France, Germany, and Great Britain. among which the with an Apple," National Gallery, London; "Girl with a Music Book," Berlin; and a "Man with the Gout," at Dresden, are particularly well known. Consult Normand, Jean Baptiste Greuze (Paris, 1892).