The Holy Family

Noël Hallé, a distinguished French painter and engraver, was born into an artistic family in Paris on September 2, 1711. His early education in painting was under the guidance of his father, Claude Guy Hallé, setting the foundation for a career that would see him honored with the principal prizes of the Académie royale de peinture. Hallé's talent and dedication earned him membership in the Académie and a prestigious position as a pensionnaire at the Académie de France in Rome during his youth, later ascending to the role of director in 1775, albeit briefly. His familial connections to the art world were notable, being the brother-in-law of Jean II Restout and the nephew of Jean Jouvenet, and his personal life was marked by his marriage to Geneviève Lorry, with whom he had a son, Jean Noël Hallé, who would become a renowned physician. Despite his achievements, Hallé's work was not without its critics, most notably Denis Diderot, who in his Salon of 1763, delivered a scathing critique of Hallé's artistic endeavors, lamenting the lack of invention and nobility in his grand subject choices. Yet, Hallé's contributions to French art were recognized by King Louis XVI, who in 1776, granted him letters patent of nobility and the title of chevalier of the Order of Saint Michael, acknowledging his distinguished service and standing among French painters. Hallé's legacy includes works held in public collections across the globe, such as 'Cornélia, mère des Gracques' at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, and pieces in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, showcasing his enduring influence in the art world until his death in Paris on June 5, 1781.