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What role did Rubens play in the development of Antoine Watteau’s style?

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Watteau, Antoine: Mezzetin — Antoine Watteau *Mezzetin*, oil on canvas by Antoine Watteau, 1718–20; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 55.2 × 43.2 cm.

The influence of Peter Paul Rubens on Antoine Watteau was profound, shaping both his artistic development and his role in the evolution of French painting.12

Direct Study: While working in the studio of Claude Audran III at the Palais du Luxembourg in 1708, Watteau studied the cycle of paintings Rubens had created for Marie de Médicis. These vibrant, life-filled works exerted a deep influence on the young artist.1
The "Rubenist" Movement: Watteau became a central figure among the "Rubenists," a group of artists and critics who championed the sovereignty of color over design and drawing. This movement rejected the rigid classicism of the preceding era, favoring the approach of Rubens, who prioritized nature and color.32
Stylistic Triumph: The triumph of the Rubenists was solidified in 1717 when the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture accepted Watteau’s L’Embarquement pour l’île de Cythère for his membership, marking a decisive victory for the colorist party.3

Through this alignment with Rubens’s aesthetic, Watteau helped herald the advent of the Rococo style, moving away from the grandiose official art of his time.12