Sébastien Bourdon: peintre protestant?

Abstract

In the history of art, few artists are studied in terms of their religious affiliation or religious choices. Sébastien Bourdon is one of the reformed artists presented as such, from the end of the seventeenth century and even more during the nineteenth century. Like many of his co-religionists, he complies with the requirements of Catholic sponsors in order to pursue a career in France in keeping with his talent and aspirations. Within its abundant production, the suite of the Works of Mercy is a separate set that allows to better understand the issues of a religious representation for a Calvinist artist: both artistic testament of the rector of the Royal Academy of Painting and of sculpture in a homage claimed to Nicolas Poussin, spiritual testament of a believer deeply attached to his Church, search for a protector in the person of Colbert at the moment when Louis XIV takes the first measures against the members of the French Reformed Church.--Decitre