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Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) 
Aliases: Antoine Vateau; Jean Antoine Vateau; Antoine Vatot; Jean Antoine Vatot; Jean Antoine Watteau
Professions: Painter; Etcher
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La Surprise : A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar
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Attributed to Francesco Fontebasso (Venice 1707-1769)
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Antoine Watteau (1684-1721)
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Antoine Watteau (Valenciennes 1684-1721 Nogent-sur-Marne)
Biography: Watteau
(b Valenciennes, bapt 10 Oct 1684; d Nogent-sur-Marne, nr Paris, 18 July 1721). He is best known for his invention of a new genre, the fête galante , a small easel painting in which elegant people are depicted in conversation or music-making in a secluded parkland setting (see under FÊTE CHAMPÊTRE). His particular originality lies in the generally restrained nature of the amorous exchanges of his characters, which are conveyed as much by glance as by gesture, and in his mingling of figures in contemporary dress with others in theatrical costume, thus blurring references to both time and place.
Grove Art excerpts - Electronic ©2003, Oxford Art Online
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