Description:
(Draughtsman) Jean Bérain the Elder was a highly influential draughtsman, designer, painter, and engraver of ornament in 17th-century France. He played a crucial role in the Royal office of the Menus-Plaisirs du Roi, where he created designs for various court spectacles, furnishings, and royal interiors. Bérain's unique "Berainesque" style, characterized by light arabesques and playful grotesques, was essential in shaping the style Régence, which later evolved into the French Rocaille and European Rococo movements. His artistic legacy extended beyond Paris, influencing artistic circles in the Low Countries, Germany, London, and even Sweden.
