Von der Bildbetrachtung zur Theorie der Malerei: die Kunsttheorie des Sébastien Bourdon (1616-1671)

The French painter and art theorist Sebastien Bourdon (1616-1671), together with Charles Le Brun and Philippe de Champaigne, was one of the founder members of the Academie royale de peinture et de sculpture in Paris. As one of its highest-ranking teachers he gave four speeches to the Academy between 1667 and 1670, which show him to be one of the most important theorists of the 17th century. This study presents for the first time the four speeches in their original transcription with an interpretation which also examines some of Bourdon's paintings and re-interprets them in the light of his theories. Bourdon's innovative systematic approach to a universal theory of painting and his bold revaluation of the artistic media of light and colour, which proved seminal for the flourishing landscape painting of the 18th century, show him to be a forerunner of Roger de Piles who is today considered the most 'modern' theorist of his days.