A Life in Portraiture
François Lemaire was a French portrait painter born in 1620. His professional journey reached a significant milestone on August 5, 1657, when he was received as a portrait painter at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. This recognition followed his presentation of the portrait of Jacques Sarrazin. Throughout his career, Lemaire was noted for his role as the first teacher of Jean-Baptiste Santerre.
In the records of the Maison du roi from 1657, Lemaire was listed alongside Jean Lemaire as a painter who did not hold the position of valet de chambre. His personal life included his marriage to Madeleine Alamanni, who passed away on April 22, 1664. Lemaire's life concluded in Paris, where he died on February 16, 1688.
Notable Works and Legacy
The artistic output of François Lemaire includes several notable portraits. Among the works preserved in historical collections are:
The portrait of the sculptor Jacques Sarrazin is held within the Opera House, Versailles collection.
