Early Life and Artistic Foundations Joseph, Baron Ducreux (June 26, 1735 – July 24, 1802), was a remarkably versatile figure in 18th-century French art—a noble, portrait painter, pastelist, miniaturist, and engraver. Born in Nancy, France, into a family with a history of artistic talent, Ducreux’s early life provided him with a solid foundation for his future career. While specific details about his formal training remain somewhat elusive, it is believed he received instruction from his father, who was also a painter, and later benefited significantly from the tutelage of Maurice Quentin de…