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The Life and Art of Jean Petitot

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Jean Petitot was an enamel painter who dedicated much of his career to the royal courts of France and England. After apprenticing under a jeweler goldsmith named Pierre Bordier, Petitot traveled to France and eventually to England. There, he received letters of introduction to Turquet de Mayerne, the physician to Charles I, who presented him to the king. During this period, Petitot carried out various commissions, including portraits such as those of Rachel de Ruvigny, countess of Southampton, and Mary Villiers, duchess of Richmond and Lennox.

Following the execution of the king, Petitot moved to Paris with the royal household. In Paris, he entered into a long-standing partnership with the goldsmith Jacques Bordier. While Petitot was responsible for the actual drawing, Bordier was primarily responsible for the enamel process. The two were granted apartments in the Louvre and received numerous commissions from Louis XIV, painting portraits of many important figures within the brilliant court.

Later Years and Legacy

Petitot's life was marked by significant religious and political shifts. Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, he faced pressure to change his religion. After a period of imprisonment and a subsequent act of abjuration, he eventually returned to Geneva in 1687. There, he was absolved by the church of St Gervais and received a major commission from John Sobieski, king of Poland, to paint portraits of himself and his queen.

Petitot died in Vevey while in the act of painting an enamel portrait of his wife. His works are preserved in several notable collections, including: