A Brushstroke of Elegance: The Life and Art of Jean-Marc Nattier Jean-Marc Nattier, a name synonymous with the refined elegance of 18th-century French court life, was more than just a portrait painter; he was a master of illusion, transforming his sitters into embodiments of classical mythology and aristocratic grace. Born in Paris on March 17, 1685, into an artistic lineage steeped in tradition – his father, Marc Nattier, a respected portraitist, and his mother, Marie Courtois, a skilled miniaturist – Nattier’s early life provided him with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of visual ar…