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Why did Antoine Watteau include members of the Sirois family in his paintings?
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Antoine Watteau
Mezzetin, oil on canvas by Antoine Watteau, 1718â20; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 55.2 Ă 43.2 cm.
Antoine Watteau included members of the Sirois family in his paintings because they were his close friends and supporters. After returning to Paris in 1710, Watteau lived as a guest of the art dealer Pierre Sirois, who, along with his son-in-law Gersaint, remained a faithful friend to the artist for the rest of his life.1
It is important to note that Watteau was not a portrait painter. When he included his friends in his works, they were not intended to be identified by name; instead, they often served as models who would masquerade and pose for the groups of Italian actors depicted in his scenes.1