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JACQUET, Mathieu - b. ~1545 Avon, d. ~1611 Paris - WGA

JACQUET, Mathieu

(b. ~1545 Avon, d. ~1611 Paris)

Mathieu Jacquet, part of a French family of sculptors. They probably came from Grenoble and were active in Paris and the surrounding region from the 16th century to the end of the 17th. Antoine Jacquet, also known as Antoine de Grenoble (c. 1500-c. 1572), was a sculptor, mason and architect. He worked at the château of Fontainebleau from 1538, executing stucco decoration, providing architectural models and casting bronze. Among his other works was ornamental sculpture executed under the direction of Francesco Primaticcio for the tomb of Henry II in Saint-Denis Abbey. His son Mathieu Jacquet, a contemporary of Germain Pilon, was the most eminent member of the family.

Mathieu Jacquet was trained in the stylistic tradition of the Fontainebleau School, coming also under the influence of Germain Pilon. He moved to Paris around 1570, and his early work continued in the decorative Mannerist tradition of his father and the other artists and craftsmen who had worked on the decoration of the château of Fontainebleau. From 1583 he worked frequently for the powerful Neufville de Villeroy family on funerary monuments and on their various houses. His career in royal service began in 1590, when he was put in charge of the abandoned works for the Valois Chapel at Saint-Denis Abbey, but was disrupted by the political disturbances of the early years of Henry IV’s reign. Jacquet held the title of Sculpteur Ordinaire du Roi from 1595 and was Garde des Antiques du Roi from 1608 to 1610. His most famous work is the Belle cheminée at the château of Fontainebleau.

Henry IV
Henry IV by

Henry IV

This head is similar to that of the equestrian statue of Henry IV sculpted by Matthieu Jacquet for the “Belle Chemin�e” at Fontainebleau.

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Henry IV
Henry IV by

Henry IV

Mathieu Jacquet’s reputation was based on the Belle Chemin�e at Fontainebleau, of which the central feature was a life-size equestrian portrait of Henry IV in high relief. This has been much altered, but from the remaining fragments and from old drawings it was evidently an impressive piece of sculptural decoration.

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Henry IV
Henry IV by

Henry IV

Mathieu Jacquet’s reputation was based on the Belle Chemin�e at Fontainebleau, of which the central feature was a life-size equestrian portrait of Henry IV in high relief. This has been much altered, but from the remaining fragments and from old drawings it was evidently an impressive piece of sculptural decoration.

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Henry IV
Henry IV by

Henry IV

Mathieu Jacquet’s reputation was based on the Belle Chemin�e at Fontainebleau, of which the central feature was a life-size equestrian portrait of Henry IV in high relief. This has been much altered, but from the remaining fragments and from old drawings it was evidently an impressive piece of sculptural decoration.

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Portrait of Henry IV, King of France, as Jupiter
Portrait of Henry IV, King of France, as Jupiter by

Portrait of Henry IV, King of France, as Jupiter

Having himself depicted as the lightly clothed, muscular figure of Jupiter, king of the Olympian gods, is surely meant to suggest that Henry felt supremely confident of his invincibility. It is a clever political ploy of one who felt enemies on every side. His concerns were justified, as he was assassinated in 1609. The fierce eagle was Jupiter’s pet and a suitable attribute of kingly ambition.

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