Definition
Jean de Jullienne (27 February 1686 – 22 June 1766) was a French cloth merchant, art collector, and patron, most renowned for his close association with the painter Antoine Watteau and for commissioning the “Recueil Jullienne,” a comprehensive series of engravings reproducing Watteau’s works.
Overview
Born in Paris, Jullienne became a prosperous textile entrepreneur, specializing in the manufacture and trade of silk and other luxury fabrics—a sector that played a central role in the French economy of the early 18th century. His commercial success enabled him to amass a notable collection of contemporary French paintings, drawings, and prints, with a particular emphasis on the works of Antoine Watteau (1684–1721).
Jullienne’s friendship with Watteau began in the 1710s, and after the artist’s death he devoted considerable resources to preserving and publicising Watteau’s oeuvre. Between 1735 and 1742 he financed the production of the “Recueil Jullienne,” a multi‑volume folio containing more than 250 engraved reproductions of Watteau’s paintings and drawings, executed by a group of leading French engravers of the period. The publication, issued in Paris by the royal printer Pierre Le Petit, played a decisive role in disseminating Watteau’s Rococo style throughout Europe.
Later in life Jullienne continued to support artistic endeavors, participating in the social and intellectual circles that surrounded the French Academy of Painting and Sculpture. He died in Paris at the age of 80, leaving his art collection to be dispersed among private and institutional owners.
Etymology/Origin
The surname “Jullienne” is of French origin, derived from a diminutive form of the personal name “Julien,” itself stemming from the Latin Julianus, meaning “belonging to Julius.” The particle “de” in “Jean de Jullienne” traditionally denotes noble or land‑holding lineage, though in Jullienne’s case it principally reflects the family’s established status as prosperous merchants rather than aristocratic title.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Profession | Cloth merchant and silk manufacturer; significant figure in the French textile trade of the early‑18th century. |
| Artistic patronage | Close patron and confidant of Antoine Watteau; financed the production of the “Recueil Jullienne.” |
| Collection | Assembled a notable collection of French paintings, especially works by Watteau, as well as drawings and prints. |
| Publications | Oversaw the multi‑volume “Recueil Jullienne” (1735‑1742), containing engravings by artists such as Nicolas‑Henri Tardieu, Pierre‑Antoine Wille, and others. |
| Social engagement | Active participant in Parisian artistic salons; associated with members of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. |
| Legacy | The “Recueil Jullienne” remains a primary source for the study of Watteau’s oeuvre, influencing both contemporary and later appreciation of Rococo art. |
Related Topics
- Antoine Watteau – French Rococo painter whose works were central to Jullienne’s collection.
- Recueil Jullienne – The engraved folio series that documents Watteau’s paintings and drawings.
- French silk industry – The commercial sector in which Jullienne achieved his wealth.
- Rococo – The artistic style flourishing in early‑18th‑century France, exemplified by Watteau’s paintings.
- 18th‑century art collecting – The broader context of private patronage and collection practices during Jullienne’s era.