A Quiet Genius Amidst Rococo Excess Jean Baptiste Defernez (1729 – 1783) remains a figure shrouded in relative obscurity compared to his contemporaries, yet his contribution to French sculpture during the Rococo era holds considerable artistic merit. Born in Paris, Defernez’s early life offers scant biographical detail—he began his apprenticeship at the Sèvres porcelain factory, gaining invaluable experience in modeling and gilding techniques that would inform his later work. This formative period instilled a meticulous attention to detail and mastery of materials – skills crucial for creati…