Early Life and Training
- Born: Paris, France (1674)
- Died: 1734
- Alexis Simon Belle was born in Paris, the second child and only son of Jean-Baptiste Belle, also a painter.
- His birth and baptism are recorded in the parish register of the church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris.
- He initially studied under his father before continuing his training in the studio of François de Troy (1645/46-1730).
- Troy was a painter at the court of King James II in exile at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
- Belle began producing work at Saint-Germain between 1698 and 1701.
Career as a Portraitist
- Belle's style was influenced by his master, François de Troy, as well as Hyacinthe Rigaud and Nicolas de Largillière.
- He gained prominence through portraits of the French and Jacobite nobility.
- During a period of peace between France and Great Britain, Belle produced portraits of James Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender") and his sister, Princess Louisa Maria.
- In 1700, he won the Prix de Rome but chose to remain in France and continue with Jacobite commissions.
- He married Anne Chéron (c. 1663–1718) in 1701, being described as "peintre ordinaire du Roy d'Angleterre" at the time.
The Jacobite Court Painter
- Belle became the principal painter to the Jacobite court and settled with his wife.
- He continued producing portraits of James Edward Stuart, which were often smuggled across the English Channel.
- His portrait of James Edward Stuart in armour, standing beside the English Channel, was particularly popular and widely copied.
- A notable work from 1712 depicts Stuart in a military outfit within a tent, becoming the standard image of the Old Pretender.
- After the Pretender moved to Bar-le-Duc, Belle joined his court in 1714.
Later Years and Artistic Development
- Belle's work expanded beyond Jacobite commissions during the 1720s, increasingly focusing on portraits of the French nobility.
- He painted King Louis XV and Mariana Victoria of Spain, among others.
- His works were frequently engraved, indicating his rising status in France.
- Belle made copies of portraits by David of James Edward Stuart's sons, Prince Charles Edward Stuart and Prince Henry Benedict Stuart, in 1731.
- He remarried to Marie-Nicolle Horthemels (born 1689, died after 1745) in 1722, who was also a painter and engraver.
Legacy and Significance
- Alexis Simon Belle is remembered for his significant contributions to French portraiture of the early 18th century.
- His portraits provide valuable insights into the lives and appearances of both the French aristocracy and exiled Jacobite figures.
- Belle's ability to capture likenesses and convey a sense of status made him a sought-after artist for prominent patrons.
- He served as a master to Jacques-André-Joseph-Camelot Aved (1702–1766), contributing to the continuation of artistic traditions.
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