Artwork dossier
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Charles-André van Loo died in 1765; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1835.
In context
Nativity (study) — Charles-André van Loo
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 60 at death.
Painted when the artist was 46. The artist lived to 60. 61 of the 106 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Charles-André van Loo (1705–1765) ▲ this work, 1751 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1736 Main working years: 1736–1757 Late works: from 1757
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/charles-andre-van-loo-nativity-study-AQTAZR-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Walnut #685136
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 62.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 163 works by this artist, of which 63 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Nice, France
Born: February 15, 1705, in Nice, France
Family Background: Son of Louis-Abraham van Loo and younger brother of Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Member of a successful dynasty of Dutch painters.
Early Education: Initial training in Turin, followed by studies in Rome (1712) under Benedetto Luti and Pierre Legros.
Parisian Studies: Attended the Académie royale, winning first prize for drawing in 1723 and historical painting in 1727.
Style: Primarily known as a Rococo painter, characterized by elegance, grace, and ornate detail.
Subject Matter: Diverse range including portraits, mythological scenes, historical paintings, allegories, and genre scenes.
Significant Works:
Venus and Amor (Kunsthalle Bremen) - Demonstrates mastery of the Rococo style.
Halt of the Hunt (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) – Captures aristocratic activities.
Portrait of Marie Leszczynska, Queen of France – A notable royal portrait.
Jupiter and Antiope - Showcases mythological themes.
Self Portrait – Provides insight into the artist's self-perception.
Perseus and Andromeda (multiple versions) – Illustrates skill in depicting classical mythology.
Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (small version) - A captivating Rococo portrait of 1760.
Royal Patronage: Enjoyed the patronage of Madame de Pompadour and the French court.
Appointment to the Court: Became First Painter to King Louis XV in 1762, a prestigious position.
Order of Saint Michael: Decorated with the Order of Saint Michael, signifying royal favor.
Family Influence: Heavily influenced by his father and brother, both accomplished painters.
Rivalry: Competed with François Boucher, another prominent Rococo artist.
Modern French School: His "simplicity of style and correctness of design" significantly influenced the modern French school of painting.
Critical Fortune: While his critical standing fluctuated over time, his skill and the breadth of his work command respect.
Museum Presence: Works are featured in prominent museums including the Louvre (The Marriage of the Virgin), Kunsthalle Bremen, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Further Resources:
AllPaintingsStore's Charles-André van Loo page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/
AllPaintingsStore's Greatest Artists of All Time page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/greatest-artists
AllPaintingsStore Virtual Museum: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/
Wikipedia Article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Andr%C3%A9_van_Loo
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/charles-andre-van-loo-nativity-study-AQTAZR-en/
For art students and researchers
Nativity (study) — Charles-André van Loo
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
Overall, "Nativity (study)" is recorded as balanced. Perceived brightness describes how light or dark the work appears.
In "Nativity (study)", a bold contrast is paired with a strong color unity harmony.
"Nativity (study)" by Charles-André van Loo has a soft shadow luminance. Luminance describes how much light the colors appear to reflect.
The AR Preview page of "Nativity (study)" by Charles-André van Loo uses augmented reality to show the artwork in your own space, on a compatible device.
The colors of "Nativity (study)" by Charles-André van Loo show a balanced soft saturation with a balanced intensity.