Philippe de Champaigne

Born in Brussels in 1602 and deceased in Paris in 1674, Philippe de Champaigne pursued a practice that brought together religious painting, portraiture and secular decoration. In 1621, intending to travel to Italy, he stopped in Paris, where he worked in Georges Lallemant’s studio and practised history painting. He subsequently took part, with Nicolas Poussin, in the execution of decorations for the Palais du Luxembourg, under the direction of Nicolas Duchesne. From 1628, he worked for Marie de Médicis and succeeded Duchesne as ordinary painter to the Queen Mother; letters of naturalisation were granted to him the following year.

His work encompassed a range of commissions: religious paintings intended for Parisian churches and convents, portraits of members of the nobility, prelates and state officials, as well as secular decorations. He painted several portraits of Cardinal Richelieu and also executed the dome of the church of the Sorbonne. He moved closer to Jansenist circles and worked for the abbeys of Port-Royal; in particular, he painted portraits of their leaders. Later, after the death of his only son in 1642, he brought his nephew Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne from Brussels to train him in his studio.

A founding member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1648, he took part, from 1654, in the decoration of the Palais des Tuileries under the direction of Charles Le Brun. Appointed professor in 1655, he also gave lectures at the Académie towards the end of his life. His contemporary André Félibien published a biography of Champaigne between 1666 and 1668, then published transcripts of several of his lectures in 1668. His work was presented at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille in 2007 and at the Musée Rath in Geneva from September 2007 to January 2008.

Works recorded at auction

Piguet

Portrait du Cardinal Mazarin

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Portrait du Cardinal Mazarin
huile sur toile

Catalogue period : 2022-09-07 — 2022-09-21

Published result : 1100 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 500–700

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Schuler · Lot 3310

Nachfolger Portrait eines Edelmannes

Oil on wood

Original catalogue wording

Nachfolger Portrait eines Edelmannes
Öl auf Holz

Catalogue period : 2019-12-13

Published result : 2000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2000–3000

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Schuler · Lot 3223

Nachfolger Portrait des Kardinals Gorandi im roten Gewand

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Nachfolger Portrait des Kardinals Gorandi im roten Gewand
Öl auf Leinwand

Catalogue period : 2014-12-12

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 1500–2500

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References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

These references are shown separately because of their attribution or lot composition. Each record states the reason.

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 326

Entourage de PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE — Engel beweinen den Leichnam Christi.

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Entourage de PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE — Engel beweinen den Leichnam Christi.
Öl auf Leinwand
Umkreis - Circle

Catalogue period : 2021-05-07

Circle

Published result : 46000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 12000

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Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Lot 25

Bust Portrait of a Young Man, c. 1640

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Portrait en buste d'un jeune homme, um 1640
huile sur toile
Nachfolge

Catalogue period : 2020-06-24

Follower of

Published result : 7754 CHF

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : CHF 6000–8000

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