Philippe de Champaigne (1602–1674) was a Flemish-born French painter born in Brussels.
In 1621, at the age of 19, Champagne left his hometown for France and settled in Paris, where he lived until his death.
In 1629, Champagne became a French citizen. He was the most outstanding French portraitist of the 17th century, appreciated by Louis XIII, the Queen Mother Marie Medici and Prime Minister Richelieu.
Portrait of Richelieu (prominent statesman and diplomat of the Kingdom of France in the early 17th century, first Duke of Richelieu of Bourbon in France)
Champagne painted mainly for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris and from 1648 participated in the creation of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Under the direction of Nicolas Duchesne, when decorating the Luxembourg Palace, he collaborated with Nicolas Poussin, sometimes creating independently, after which he married Poussin's daughter.
Champagne's later religious paintings are considered to be an artistic reflection of the rational ideas of French classicism, which is close to Poussin.
His portraits have a certain psychological portrayal of expression, and the human figures show the characteristics of French classicist painting.
Around 1643, he came into contact with the teachings of Janssenism, and his paintings became more austere and subtle. The Two Nuns of Port Royal is an outstanding work of his later period.
In 1648 he was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Painting. Seven years later, he became a French royal painter, making frescoes and designing tapestries.
Champagne combines the naturalism of the Flemish Baroque with the implicit classicism of French art to form a unique personal style. He has works on natural landscapes and religious subjects, but he is best known for his portraitures. His portraits and other works for Cardinal Richelieu are full of intense brightness and keen realism, painted vividly and with personality, rendering Rubens' Baroque style more classical and simple.
Using strong chiaroscuro and dramatic effects, he painted religious subjects with distinctive Baroque art.
In 1653 , Champagne was elected professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and later to dean. The famous "Two Nuns of Port Royal" is one of his many portraits and religious paintings.
In 1674, Philippe de Champagne died at the age of 72.
Two nuns of Port Royal