(c1516 - 1572)
Francois Clouet was born probably at Tours. He became one of the greatest French portrait painters of his century. In 1541 he succeeded his father Jean Clouet as court painter to Francis I king of France, a post he continued to hold under Henry II, Francis II and Charles IX. He died in Paris. There is a portrait drawing of the sitters's father by Francois Clouet in the British Museum and two more drawings of him - by either Jean or Francois Clouet - are in the Musee Conde, Chantilly.
