Louis de Silvestre (23 June 1675 - 11 April 1760) was a French portrait and history painter. He was court painter to King Augustus II of Poland, and director of the Royal Academy of Arts in Dresden.
Sylvestre was born in Sceaux, south of Paris, the third son of Israel Silvestre, the notable engraver and drawing-master to the Dauphin himself. Louis was taught initially by his father, then trained under Charles Le Brun and Bon Boullogne; he completed his studies in Rome, where he met Carlo Maratta, whose work had a great influence on him.
After his return to Paris, Sylvester entered the Royal Academy in 1702 and was appointed professor in 1706. Portrait of Maria Josepha of Austria (1699-1757), Queen consort of Poland 1736(1736)
Oil on canvas
84 x 66 cm (33.1 x 26 in)
cjr
