Nicolas-Guy Brenet, “Sleeping Endymion”, 1756, Oil on Canvas, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts

On July 1, 1728, Nicolas-Guy Brenet was born in Paris, France. He studied at the Art Institute of Francois Boucher. Brenet’s historical paintings represented the classical style, rejecting the rococo movement of the 1760s and late shifting to Neoclassicism.. This was a time that was strongly influenced by the Greek and Roman culture.

Brenet’s neoclassic artwork with its simplicity and unity aesthetically attracted both the viewer and the artist. The paintings were very detailed with an important object or figure, often muscular and nude, or object that drew the viewer’s attention. Adding to his Greek and Roman depictions, Brenet also portrayed religion and religious scenes in his paintings.

Through his final years, Nicolas-guy Brenet passed down his artistic hand to his son Nicolas-Gay Antoine Brenet. On the first of February 1792, Brenet pass away in Paris.