Joseph Ducreux: The Baron of Playful Portraits Born in Nancy, France, in 1735, Joseph Ducreux’s artistic journey was one marked by both royal patronage and a delightfully unconventional approach to portraiture. Initially trained under Maurice Quentin de La Tour, a master of pastel, Ducreux quickly established himself as a skilled artist, laying the groundwork for his later innovations. His early work demonstrated an understanding of detail and expression – skills he would later playfully subvert. He moved to Paris in 1760, seeking further refinement, and was profoundly influenced by Jean-Ba…