Oudry, Jean-Baptiste

(1686-1755)

   painter, decorator, engraver

   Born in Paris, Jean-Baptiste oudry studied under noted artists and was initially a religious and portrait painter. He then turned to painting animals, still lifes, and landscapes. Appointed to paint the royal hunting scenes, he also was the director of the tapestry works at Beauvais (1734), then served as superintendent of the gobelin works (1736), where he did a series of designs (Les Verdures fines, 1736; Les Chasses de Louis XV, 1734-45). Oudry continued to paint animal scenes while also producing landscapes and still lifes that show his great technical virtuosity (Canard blanc, 1753). Oudry illustrated 230 designs for the Fables of jean de la fontaine.