The Dream Weaver: Jean-Marie Ribou and the Symbolist Portrait Jean-Marie Ribou, a name perhaps less familiar than many of his contemporaries, nevertheless stands as a significant figure within the burgeoning world of 18th-century French art. Born in Bordeaux around 1744, Ribou’s career unfolded during a period of profound artistic transition—moving away from the rigid formality of the Rococo and tentatively embracing the nascent currents of Symbolism. While he did not fully align with the movement's later, more overtly emotional expressions, his work possessed a haunting beauty and psycholog…