Louis Galloche

1670 – 1761

French painter. He was a pupil of Louis Boullogne the Younger. In 1695 he won the Prix de Rome and subsequently lived in Rome for two years. Because of a lull in royal patronage, Galloche was obliged, on his return to Paris, to accept commissions from churches and monasteries. Between 1706 and 1713 he painted, in collaboration with Louis de Silvestre, St Scholastica Praying for a Storm (Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels) and scenes from the life of St Benedict for the refectory of St Martin-des-Champs, Paris. In 1711 he was received (reçu) as a member of the Académie Royale, Paris, on presentation of Hercules Restoring Alcestis to her Husband (École Nationale Supérieur des Beax-Arts, Paris). He became professor at the Académie in 1720, rector in 1746 and chancellor in 1754. Between 1737 and 1751 he exhibited regularly at the Salons. Galloche was the last important upholder of the classicising traditions of Le Brun. His innovations included taking his pupils out in to the countryside to examine the effects of nature and this is reflected in his use of realistic figure types, fresh colours and harmonious lighting. His students included François Lemoyne, Charles-Joseph Natoire and François Boucher.

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