_Philippe de Champaigne_ (French: 1602-1674).
A painter of historical subjects and portraits, he was born at
Brussels, but went to Paris at the age of 19. He was employed
by Du Chesne, the painter royal, to work at the Luxembourg in
concert with Nicolas Poussin. Du Chesne was of mediocre talent
and jealous disposition, and Champaigne and Poussin soon left
him. The two men were mutually attached, and in after years
Champaigne discoursed at a session of the Academy on the merits
of his friend Poussin. Champaigne returned to Brussels, but was
recalled in 1627 to succeed Du Chesne. He executed many works
for the churches and royal residences and also for Cardinal
Richelieu's palace. He became an original member of the French
Academy in 1648, of which he was also Professor and Rector.
Towards the end of his life, his fame began to pale before
that of Le Brun. His religious and historical works, of which
there are several in the Louvre, are apt to leave the modern
spectator cold; but his portraits are excellent.
This picture was painted for the Roman sculptor Mocchi to make a bust
from, hence the two profiles as well as the full face. Over the profile
on the right are the words (in French), "of the two profiles this is
the better." In this profile the compressed lips, the merciless eyes,
the iron-gray hair and prominent nose, bespeak the great Cardinal
Minister of Louis XIII., and the maker of France, who summed up his
policy and his character in the words, "I venture on nothing without
first thinking it out; but once decided, I go straight to my point,
overthrow or cut down whatever stands in my way, and finally cover it
all up with my cardinal's red robes." In the full face one sees rather
the man who was also a princely patron of the arts and artists (of
De Champaigne amongst their number), and the founder of the French
Academy.[184] The central head here was clearly used as a study for the
full-length portrait, No. 1449.