Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
Jacques de Létin (1597 - 1661): A Forgotten Master of Baroque Portraiture Jacques de Létin, or Jacques Ninet de Lestin, or Jacques de L'Estin (1597, Troyes – October, 1661, Troyes) remains a curiously elusive figure in the annals of French art history. Despite producing a substantial body of work—primarily religious paintings and portraits—he faded into obscurity after his lifetime, largely due to the destructive forces unleashed by th
e French Revolution and subsequent conflicts. However, recent scholarship has begun to illuminate his life and artistic contributions, revealing him as a significant practitioner of Baroque painting and a student of Carvaggio’s dramatic style. Early Life & Training: Born into a modest family in Troyes, Jacques de Létin received an education that encompassed both goldsmithing and painting. His father, Jehan, operated a hotel—L'Ima…
