Thomas Regnaudin and François Girardon

Thomas Regnaudin and François Girardon were leading sculptors of the French Baroque era, epitomizing the style of Louis XIV. Think grandeur, classical restraint, and dramatic elegance. Their work, often commissioned for Versailles, features:

• Classical influence: Drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art, evident in their use of idealized human forms, balanced compositions, and historical or mythological subject matter.
• Royal glorification: A central theme was celebrating the power and majesty of Louis XIV, often through allegorical representations and monumental scale.
• Emotional restraint: While dramatic, their figures possess a controlled emotional intensity, avoiding the overt theatricality of some other Baroque styles.
• Technical virtuosity: Their sculptures display meticulous detail, refined surfaces, and a mastery of marble carving.

Tie-in:

• Girardon: Think "Graceful Regard". His sculptures often invite a graceful regard, demonstrating a more restrained, classical approach.
• Regnaudin: Think "Reign of Undeniable" His work undeniably shows a command of the craft and reigns supreme in the field of sculpture.

In essence, Regnaudin and Girardon created a refined and majestic visual language that defined the French Baroque and the reign of the Sun King.