Gillot-Mascarade - Drawing. Public domain image.

Claude Gillot was a French painter, engraver and designer, born in Langres in 1673. He is best known for his work as a painter and decorator, particularly for his designs for the Paris Opera. Gillot was also a successful portrait painter and produced a number of works in this genre. Gillot was trained in the Flemish style and was strongly influenced by the work of Flemish painters such as Rubens and Van Dyck. He moved to Paris in the early 1690s and quickly established himself as a successful artist, working for a number of prominent patrons including the Duke of Orléans. In addition to his work as a painter, Gillot was also an accomplished engraver and produced a number of prints based on his own designs. He was particularly adept at creating intricate and detailed compositions full of movement and energy. Gillot died in Paris in 1722, aged 49. Despite his relatively short career, he left behind a significant body of work that is highly regarded by art historians and collectors alike. His work continues to be celebrated for its technical skill, inventiveness and sense of humour and whimsy.