LIOTARD, JEAN ETIENNE (1702-1789), French painter, was born at Geneva.
He began his studies under Professor Gardelle and Petitot, whose enamels
and miniatures he copied with considerable skill. He went to Paris in
1725, studying under J. B. Masse and F. le Moyne, on whose
recommendation he was taken to Naples by the Marquis Puysieux. In 1735
he was in Rome, painting the portraits of Pope Clement XII. and several
cardinals. Three years later he accompanied Lord Duncannon to
Constantinople, whence he went to Vienna in 1742 to paint the portraits
of the imperial family. His eccentric adoption of oriental costume
secured him the nickname of "the Turkish painter." Still under
distinguished patronage he returned to Paris in 1744, visited England,
where he painted the princess of Wales in 1753, and went to Holland in
1756, where, in the following year, he married Marie Fargues. Another
visit to England followed in 1772, and in the next two years his name
figures among the Royal Academy exhibitors. He returned to his native
town in 1776 and died at Geneva in 1789.