Olga's Gallery

Antoine Pesne was born in Paris in 1683 into the family of the painter T. Pesne. Antoine received his first lessons in art from his father, later he studied in the Academy and with his gifted and resourceful uncle, Charles de la Fosse (1636-1716). In 1710-1711 Antoine made an extensive tour of Italy. He came to Berlin in 1711 to teach art to Prince Frederick and his more artistically talented younger brother. Soon Pesne became a court painter of the Prussian king and remained a highly esteemed and highly paid figure at Berlin’s court for over 46 years. Pesne painted portraits, historical and religious subjects, executed monumental decorative works. In 1720, he became a member of the Paris Academy of Arts. In 1722-24, Pesne traveled to England. He was also the director of the Berlin Academy.
The artist died in 1757 and was buried in Berlin.

Bibliography:
German and Austrian Paintings. XV-XVIII centuries. by N. Nikulin. Leningrad. 1989.
Sanssouci: Schlösser, Gärten, Kunstwerke. Potsdam-Sanssouci. 1976.