Jean-Baptiste Martin: The Master of Battle Jean-Baptiste Martin, often known as “Martin des Batailles,” stands as a towering figure in the history of 17th and 18th-century French art. More than simply a painter, he was a meticulous designer, a skilled decorator, and ultimately, the driving force behind some of the most dramatic and influential tapestries commissioned by Louis XIV and his successors. His legacy isn’t just found in individual paintings; it resides profoundly within the grand narratives woven into the very fabric of Versailles and other royal residences. Born in Paris in 1714,…