Early Life and Artistic Foundations Joseph, Baron Ducreux, a name now synonymous with delightfully unconventional portraiture, was born in Nancy, France, on June 26, 1735. His lineage hinted at an artistic heritage; his father, too, pursued painting, providing young Joseph with an early introduction to the world of color and form. While details about his formal training remain somewhat sparse, it’s understood that he began his artisti…