Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse 1824-1887 | French sculptor

Carrier-Belleuse trained as a goldsmith before entering the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1840 under the sponsorship of Pierre-Jean David d’Angers. He only stayed there for a short time before switching to the Petite Ecole to study decorative arts. Carrier-Belleuse worked in London from 1850-1855, designing ceramics and metalwork models for companies. Beginning in 1857, he exhibited large sculptures at the Salon and received medals and important commissions. From 1851-1870, Emperor Napoleon III hired him to work on the rebuilding of Paris. Carrier-Belleuse’s work incorporated a variety of styles and influences including Naturalism, Realism, neo-Baroque, and Rococo. He employed many pupils such as Auguste Rodin 1840-1917 in his large workshop that produced series, editions, and variations of his sculptures. He was also the father and teacher of Pierre Carrier-Belleuse 1851-1933.

Vladimir Hozatski 1955 | Rococo russian painter

Well-known in his native Russia, as well as abroad, Hozatski has received numerous accolades for his work. One of the major commissions he received was a request, in 1985, from then-President Mikhail Gorbachev for Hozatski and his father Guenrich to paint the interior walls of the President's Black Sea summer dacha in the Crimea. For the reception area, known as the Tea Room, President and Mrs. Gorbachev commissioned from Guenrich the triptych "Gurzuf", and for the lobby, commissioned from Hozatski the triptych "Yalta". It took the father and son three years to complete the project, and in January of 1989 they traveled the dacha to install the works. These paintings have been viewed by diplomats and dignitaries from all over the world. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Crimea was returned to the Ukraine, and the dacha became Ukrainian state property. It is still used today for international functions. This commission was the highest honor for an artist in the Soviet Union, and was a very important landmark in young Hozatski's career.

Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun 1755-1842 | Rococo french paintier

Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun was a french painter and is recognized as the most famous woman painter of the eighteenth century. Her style is generally considered Rococo and shows interest in the subject of neoclassical painting. Vigée-Le Brun cannot be considered a purely Neoclassist in that she creates mostly portraits in Neoclassical dress rather than the history painting. In her choice of color and style while serving as the portrait painter to the Queen, Vigée-Le Brun is purely Rococo.

Francois Boucher 1703-1770 | French rococo painter

Born in Paris, the son of a minor painter, Nicolas, by whom he was probably first taught. He studied briefly under François Lemoyne before winning the prix de Rome at the Academy in 1723, but there was then no place for him at Rome. In 1728 he went to Rome, probably at his own expense. He was made a professor in 1737. His industry and facility rapidly brought him success, at home and abroad. His first commission from the Crown, paintings for the Queen’s apartments at Versailles in 1735, was followed by others for Versailles, Fontainebleau, the Bibliothèque du Roi Choisy and La Muette. By 1750 he was painting for Madame de Pompadour whose lavish patronage enhanced his later career. His work inspired porcelain figure groups for the Vincennes and Sèvres factories, 1749-56. In 1765 he was appointed premier peintre du Roi - First Painter to the King. He exhibited at the Salon between 1737-1769 and died in Paris on 1770. His collections, which included all kinds of curiosities, were sold in Paris from 18 February 1771.