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Roger de Piles

French art critic

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Roger de Piles was a French art critic who played a significant role in the debate between the "Poussinists" and "Rubenists" in the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture during the late 17th century. He championed the "Rubenists," who emphasized the importance of color over design and drawing in painting.12

De Piles argued that genius could transcend established rules and that a critic's subjective feelings, alongside reason, were valid in evaluating art. His writings helped legitimize the "Rubenist" perspective, challenging the dominance of the more rigid "Poussinist" approach and contributing to a shift in art criticism towards a greater appreciation of individual expression and color.12

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