Jean-Jacques de Boissieu (1736–1810): The Quiet Genius of Lyon Jean-Jacques de Boissieu remains a figure shrouded in relative obscurity compared to his contemporaries, yet his contribution to French art—particularly portraiture and landscape depictions—holds considerable merit. Born in Lyon in 1736, he emerged from a milieu steeped in artistic tradition, inheriting skills honed by his uncle, Jean-Charles Frontier, a painter who instilled in him the importance of direct observation and meticulous draughtsmanship. Early Life & Training: De Boissieu’s formal education focused on the École Gra…