Jean-Étienne Liotard (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ etjɛn ljɔtaʁ]; 22 December 1702 – 12 June 1789) was a Genevan painter, pastellist, printmaker, art theorist and art dealer. Born in the Republic of Geneva as the son of exiled French Huguenots, he spent most of his career working in cities such as Rome, Istanbul, Paris, Vienna, London, Amsterdam and other cities. He is best known for his detailed, strikingly naturalistic portraits in pastel and Orientalist scenes of life in Turkey. As an art theorist he wrote the Traité des Principes et règles de la Peinture (Treatise on the Principles and Rules of Painting) in which he argued that painting should to be a mirror of nature.
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Life
Liotard was born in Geneva as the son of Antoine, a merchant and citizen of Geneva, and Anne Sauvage. His parents were French Protestants who had fled to Geneva after 1685. He had a twin brother called Jean-Michel (1702–1796) who became a draughtsman and engraver. Jean-Étienne Liotard began his art studies in Geneva under miniature painter Daniel Gardelle in whose workshop he studied enamel and miniature painting. He produced several portraits showing his talent.