The three Le Nain brothers were painters in France: Antoine Le Nain (c.1599-1648), Louis Le Nain (c.1593-1648), and Mathieu Le Nain (1607-1677). They were born at Laon but had all moved to Paris by 1630.
Because of the remarkable similarity of their styles of painting and the difficulty of distinguishing works by each brother (they signed their paintings only with their surname, and many may have been collaborations), they are commonly referred to as a single entity, Le Nain. Louis is usually credited with the best-known of their paintings, a series of scenes depicting peasant life. These genre paintings are often noted for being remarkably literal, yet sympathetic; the subjects are never grotesque or seem ridiculed. There remains some question, however, as to whether some of the assumed "peasants" were truly from the rural class--many seem to be simply the bourgeois at leisure in the country.
The brothers also produced miniatures and portraits. Mathieu became the official painter of Paris in 1633, and was made a chevalier.
Antoine and Louis died in 1648. Mathieu lived until 1677.
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Le Nain, brothers
Peasants at their Cottage Door
Date: 1640s Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Milkmaid's Family
Date: c. 1641 Movement: Baroque Theme: Portrait Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Bacchus and Ariadne
Date: c. 1635 Movement: Baroque Theme: Mythology Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Smokers in an Interior
Date: 1643 Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Venus at the Forge of Vulcan
Date: 1641 Movement: Baroque Theme: Mythology Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
The Supper at Emmaus
Date: 1645 Movement: Baroque Theme: New Testament Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Peasant Interior
Date: 1642 Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Birth of the Virgin
Date: c. 1645 Movement: Baroque Theme: New Testament Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Four Figures at Table
Date: 1630s Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Blacksmith at His Forge
Date: c. 1640 Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Visit to Grandmother
Date: Circa 1645/1648 Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Peasant Interior with an Old Flute Player
Date: c. 1642 Movement: Baroque Theme: Genre Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Peasant Family
Date: c. 1640 Movement: Baroque Theme: Portrait Technique: Oil on canvas
Le Nain, brothers
Landscape with Peasants and a Chapel
Date: Not dated Movement: Baroque Theme: Landscape Technique: Oil on canvas