Ask for the famous artists of the Musée Cognacq-Jay and you will hear of Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Canaletto, François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
Below, the 25 best-known of the 106 artists with works of the Musée Cognacq-Jay in our catalogue (159 works), each with what the museum holds of them.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in the Musée Cognacq-Jay
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
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Neoclassicism
1. Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun 1755–1842
1755–1842 Born in Paris, France Neoclassicism 4 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French Rococo portraitist famed for capturing the grace of Marie Antoinette and the elite nobility in soft, luminous oil and pastel tones. The household is one of art and observation.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
2. Canaletto 1697–1768
1697–1768 Born in Venice, Italy Rococo 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Giovanni Antonio Canal, known to many as Canaletto, was born in Venice, Italy, on October 18, 1697. The influence of his family's trade stayed with him as he moved toward more permanent subjects. In 1718, Canaletto left Venice for Rome. Between 1746 and 1756, Canaletto made several trips to England. From 1749 to 1752, he lived in London, staying at 41 Beak Street in the Soho district.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
3. François Boucher 1703–1770
1703–1770 Born in Paris, France Rococo 4 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
In the bustling streets of Paris, France, the story of François Boucher began on September 29, 1703. At the age of seventeen, François Boucher was apprenticed to François Lemoyne, a man of significant standing.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
4. Jean-Honoré Fragonard 1732–1806
1732–1806 Born in Grasse, France Rococo 4 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Before picking up a brush as a professional, Jean-Honoré Fragonard is apprenticed to a Paris notary, a practical detour into the world of legal documentation.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
5. Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1725–1805
1725–1805 Born in Tournus, France Rococo 6 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Born in the quiet Burgundian town of Tournus in 1725, Jean-Baptiste Greuze emerged as a pivotal figure in eighteenth-century French art. Denis Diderot, a leading intellectual of the Enlightenment, became a fervent champion of Greuze’s work, praising his ability to depict “morality in paint.” However, this very success created a dilemma for the artist.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
6. Francesco Guardi 1712–1793
1712–1793 Born in Venice, Italy Rococo 8 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
The Guardi family workshop, established by his father Domenico, was a bustling center of artistic production, where Francesco initially collaborated with his elder brother Gian Antonio on religious paintings. However, while Canaletto prioritized topographical accuracy, Guardi gradually moved towards a more expressive and imaginative approach. Guardi’s most ambitious undertaking came in 1763 with his commission for The Doge's Feasts, a series of twelve monumental canvases celebrating the ceremonies surrounding the election of Alvise IV Mocenigo.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Romanticism
7. Hubert Robert 1733–1808
1733–1808 Born in Paris, France Romanticism 3 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Born in Paris in 1733, Hubert Robert entered a world where his family's social standing was tied to the service of others. In 1754, Robert left France for Rome, traveling in the entourage of Étienne-François de Choiseul. Upon his return to Paris in 1765, Robert found a city eager for the perspectives he had gathered during his years in Italy.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Rococo
8. Jean-Marc Nattier 1685–1766
1685–1766 Born in Paris, France Rococo 3 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Born into a family steeped in artistic tradition, Jean-Marc Nattier emerged as one of the most celebrated portraitists of 18th-century France. Born in Paris on March 17, 1685, Nattier’s early training involved not only direct instruction from his father but also diligent copying of masterpieces at the Luxembourg Gallery.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Baroque
9. Nicolas de Largillière 1656–1746
1656–1746 Born in Paris, France Baroque 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Nicolas de Largillière, a name inextricably linked to the elegance and refinement of French Baroque portraiture, was born into a bustling commercial world in Paris in 1656. However, it was his acceptance into the prestigious French Academy in 1686 that truly cemented his position within the Parisian art world.
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Neoclassicism
10. Louis Léopold Boilly 1761–1845
1761–1845 Born in La Bassée, France Neoclassicism 6 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French painter of meticulous genre scenes and portraits that capture the bustling social customs and fashion of the Parisian middle class. July 5, 1761, La Bassée, France Died: January 4, 1845, Paris, France
Originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
The masters, continued
No. 11 to No. 25: more masters of the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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11. Jean-Baptiste Pater
Rococo
1695–1736 · born in Valenciennes, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French Rococo painter and sole pupil of Watteau, known for elegant fête galante scenes and a distinctive technique of shimmering lines.
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12. Marguerite Gérard
Neoclassicism
1761–1837 · born in Grasse, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French Rococo genre painter of intimate domestic scenes, featuring meticulous details of motherhood, music, and pets in soft, blended strokes.
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13. François Hubert Drouais
Rococo
1727–1775 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French Rococo portraitist of the Louis XV court, known for luminous skin tones and the delicate layering of translucent oil glazes.
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14. Jean-Baptiste Isabey
Neoclassicism
1767–1855 · born in Nancy, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French Neoclassical painter and miniaturist who captured the grandeur of Napoleon through precise portraits and intricate, detailed miniatures.
- Portrait of a Man (1802)
- Napoleon I in National Guard Uniform (1812)
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15. William Artaud
1763–1823 · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
- Portrait of Two Young Girls (1790)
- The Disguised Children (1790)
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16. Jeanne-Philiberte Ledoux
1767–1840 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
French painter of delicate miniatures and intimate portraits, blending neoclassical rigor with a subtle, melancholy emotional depth.
- Portrait of a Young Woman (1795)
- Portrait of a Young Girl (1790)
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17. Peter Adolf Hall
1739–1793 · born in Borås, Sweden · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Swedish-French miniature painter and court artist to Louis XVI, known for using impasto to bring lifelike texture to portraits of the nobility.
- Portrait of Louis-Auguste (1769)
- Portrait of Lucie Hall (1788)
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18. Jean-Baptiste Jacques Augustin
1759–1832 · born in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France · 4 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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19. Nicolas-René Jollain
1732–1804 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
- The Toilet (1780)
- The Bath (1780)
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20. Lié Louis Périn-Salbreux
1753–1817 · born in Reims, France · 3 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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21. Henry Pierce Bone
1779–1855 · born in London, United Kingdom · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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22. Jean-François Clermont
1717–1807 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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23. Le Prince
1734–1781 · born in Metz, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Jean-Baptiste Regnault (1734-1781) was a prominent French Neoclassical painter known for historical & allegorical scenes, including 'Alexandre and Diogène'. Influential teacher of David's rivals. Louvre works include 'Education of Achilles'.
- The Sultana (1701)
- The Balalaika Player (1764)
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24. Jean-Alexandre Boquet
1752–1828 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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25. Jeanne-Magdeleine Favier
1863–1904 · born in Vichy, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Famous artists in the Musée Cognacq-Jay, No. 26 to 28
The house in figures
The masters of the Musée Cognacq-Jay, in figures
The masters with the most originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in the Musée Cognacq-Jay
8 women masters, 14 originals, in our catalogue of the Musée Cognacq-Jay.
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Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun
1755–1842 · born in Paris, France · 4 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
- Portrait of a Young Woman (1777)
- Marquise de Mirabeau (1774)
- Portrait of a Dancer (1780)
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Marguerite Gérard
1761–1837 · born in Grasse, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Jeanne-Magdeleine Favier
1863–1904 · born in Vichy, France · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Vincenza Benzi-Basteris
born in Turin, Italy · 2 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Adélaïde Labille-Guiard
1749–1803 · born in Paris, France · 1 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Marie-Anne Fragonard
1745–1823 · born in Grasse, France · 1 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Nanine Vallain
1767–1815 · born in France · 1 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Louise Bourdon
1767–1852 · born in Paris, France · 1 originals at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Two houses
The Musée Cognacq-Jay or the Louvre: whose originals are where
The Musée Cognacq-Jay
- Masters in our catalogue
- 106
- Originals
- 159
- The masters to know
- Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Canaletto, François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard
- Most originals by
- Francesco Guardi (8), Jean-Baptiste Greuze (6), Louis Léopold Boilly (6)
The Louvre
- Masters in our catalogue
- 695
- Originals
- 2,610
- The masters to know
- Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer
- Most originals by
- Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (101), Eustache Le Sueur (56), Eugène Delacroix (42)
Asked of us
Questions on the masters of the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Open a question to read the answer.
Who is the most famous artist in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, with 4 works at the Musée Cognacq-Jay in our catalogue (Portrait of a Young Woman, Marquise de Mirabeau and Portrait of a Dancer); then Canaletto and François Boucher.
What did Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun paint that hangs in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
Our catalogue lists 4 works by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, among them Portrait of a Young Woman (1777), Marquise de Mirabeau (1774), Portrait of a Dancer (1780) and Presumed Portrait of Charlotte-Françoise Bergeret de Norinval (1780).
Which Canaletto works are in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
Our catalogue lists 2 works by Canaletto at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, among them The Grand Canal from the Ponte di Rialto (1725) and View of Canale di Santa Chiara, Venice (1730).
What did François Boucher paint that hangs in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
Our catalogue lists 4 works by François Boucher at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, among them Stable interior with amorous scene (1735), Portrait of madame Baudouin (1758) and The music lesson.
Which ten artists should I look for in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
The ten best-known artists with works in the Musée Cognacq-Jay are Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (4), Canaletto (2), François Boucher (4), Jean-Honoré Fragonard (4), Jean-Baptiste Greuze (6), Francesco Guardi (8), Hubert Robert (3), Jean-Marc Nattier (3), Nicolas de Largillière (2) and Louis Léopold Boilly (6).
Who has the most paintings in the collection of the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
Francesco Guardi (1712–1793), with 8 works in our catalogue of the Musée Cognacq-Jay, ahead of Jean-Baptiste Greuze (6), Louis Léopold Boilly (6) and Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (4).
Is Leonardo da Vinci in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
No: the Musée Cognacq-Jay holds no work by Leonardo da Vinci in our catalogue. The Louvre holds 30.
Does the Musée Cognacq-Jay have any Pablo Picasso paintings?
No: the Musée Cognacq-Jay holds no work by Pablo Picasso in our catalogue.
Which women artists are in the Musée Cognacq-Jay?
8 women artists have works of the Musée Cognacq-Jay in our catalogue, among them Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (4), Marguerite Gérard (2), Jeanne-Magdeleine Favier (2), Vincenza Benzi-Basteris (2), Adélaïde Labille-Guiard (1) and Marie-Anne Fragonard (1).
The Musée Cognacq-Jay or the Louvre: which has the more famous artists?
The Musée Cognacq-Jay holds works by 106 artists of our catalogue, the Louvre by 695. The best-known artists of the Musée Cognacq-Jay are Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Canaletto and François Boucher; of the Louvre, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo.
Which countries are the painters of the Musée Cognacq-Jay from?
Counting the artists with two works or more, the Musée Cognacq-Jay holds painters born mostly in France (21), Italy (3), Sweden (1) and United Kingdom (1).
Which centuries do the painters of the Musée Cognacq-Jay belong to?
The 18th century leads with 20 artists born then. In this ranking, Nicolas de Largillière (1656–1746) is the earliest born and Jeanne-Magdeleine Favier (1863–1904) the latest.
The house
The Musée Cognacq-Jay, Paris, in a few lines
A Parisian Sanctuary of Eighteenth-Century Splendor
To enter this museum is to step through a portal of time, leaving the modern bustle of Paris behind for the intimate, gilded atmosphere of the Hôtel Donon. The story of this collection is one of remarkable philanthropy and commercial triumph, born from the passion of Ernest Cognacq, a titan of Parisian commerce. Alongside his wife Marie-Louise Jay, he built the legendary La Samaritaine department store, yet his true legacy was forged through his unwavering devotion to beauty. Cognacq spent decades meticulously assembling a treasury of decorative arts and fine paintings, eventually offering his life's work as a gift to the City of Paris.
A Masterclass in Eighteenth-Century Aesthetics
The museum’s inventory is a dazzling panorama of European craftsmanship, featuring works by luminaries such as François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and Jean-Siméon Chardin. Every object within these walls, from the smallest porcelain figurine to the most imposing sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon, tells a story of a transformative era defined by elegance and technical mastery. What truly distinguishes the Musée Cognacq-Jay is its ability to foster a personal connection between the viewer and the past.
The famous originals of the Musée Cognacq-JayThe Musée Cognacq-Jay: the full page, 164 originalsThe museums of Paris
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of the Musée Cognacq-Jay in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
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