Adam Frans van der Meulen(1632-1690) Van der Meulen was trained by the court painter Pieter Snayers of Brussels. His first work as an independent artist was done in Brussels. He painted genre and history pieces. Fifteen years later he moved to Paris where he entered the service of King Louis XIV. Van der Meulen immortalised Louis's military successes. He went on campaigns and sketched in the field, later elaborating his studies in the studio to make paintings or cartoonsCartoonsA 'cartoon' is a full-scale design for a painting, stained-glass window, carpet, mosaic or mural. The design is tranferred from the cartoon onto the surface to be worked on (canvas, panel, wall, window). Two methods were used for this. The reverse of the cartoon is covered with chalk. It is then placed on the surface and the lines are traced with a sharp implement. The chalk, and thus the subject of the art work, is transferred to the surface. Another method is as follows: holes are cut in the cartoon, along the lines of the design. Charcoal marks are made through the holes. In this way the design appears in dots and in the right size on the surface. Using this design of dotted lines, the artist can complete the work. Cartoons for carpets and embroidery are often coloured. In that case it is not only the lines of the design that are important but also the coloured areas. for tapestries. The latter were actually produced in the royal factory, the 'Manufacture Royale des Gobelins'. Van der Meulen was successful at court. He was appointed to a high position in the Royal Academy, the most powerful bastion of the arts. |
