early life and training charles alphonse du fresnoy, a french painter and writer on his art, was born in paris in 1611, son of an apothecary. he was destined for the medical profession but, having a natural propensity for the fine arts, he would not apply to his intended vocation. instead, he was allowed to learn the rudiments of design under perrier and vouet. artistic career at the age of twenty-one, du fresnoy went to rome, where he…