Oudry

Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686–1755) was a French painter and engraver renowned for his naturalistic animal paintings and hunting scenes. Born in Paris, he trained and established himself in the French artistic milieu of the early 18th century, gaining prominence for works that prioritized precise observation of animal anatomy, fur texture, and lifelike coloration.

Oudry received substantial royal patronage and served as a court painter to Louis XV. He produced a large body of work for the French royal household and contributed to decorative arts through paintings intended for palatial interiors. In addition to original canvases, he created numerous engravings after his paintings, helping to disseminate his style beyond the circle of patrons and collectors.

Subjects and style play a central role in Oudry’s oeuvre. He is best known for meticulously observed representations of horses, dogs, game, and other wildlife, often set within carefully composed, light-inflected scenes. His approach bridged late Baroque and early Rococo tastes, combining dramatic presentation with a measured, naturalistic sensibility that appealed to both courtly patrons and expanding middle-class audiences.

Legacy and influence extend beyond his paintings. Oudry’s emphasis on accuracy and texture in animal depiction helped establish a lasting tradition in 18th-century European animal painting and influenced subsequent generations of painters and printmakers. His works remain in major museum collections and are valued for their combination of documentary fidelity and refined aesthetic quality. He died in Paris in 1755.