Roger de Piles

Roger de Piles (1635-1709) was a French art critic, painter, and diplomat who significantly influenced art theory during the late 17th century. His writings and theories helped shape academic discussions about painting and artistic merit, particularly through his development of a systematic approach to evaluating artwork. De Piles is best remembered for creating the "Balance des Peintres," a numerical scoring system that rated famous painters on composition, drawing, color, and expression. This innovative method, published in his 1708 work "Cours de peinture par principes," represented one of the first attempts to objectively analyze artistic quality. His most influential works include "Dialogue sur le coloris" (1673) and "L'Art de peinture" (1668), which championed the importance of color in painting during the heated debate between supporters of drawing (Poussinistes) and color (Rubénistes) in French academic circles. De Piles strongly advocated for the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, whose use of color he considered exemplary. During his career, de Piles combined his artistic interests with diplomatic service, working as a secretary to French ambassadors and occasionally undertaking secret diplomatic missions. His theories on art and color continued to influence artistic discourse well into the 18th century, particularly in French academic circles.

Limited reader review data exists for Roger de Piles' works online, as most discussions appear in academic contexts rather than consumer reviews. His art theory books and essays do not have listings on Goodreads or Amazon. Readers note his clear explanations of painting techniques and color theory, particularly in "The Principles of Painting." Art students appreciate his systematic approach to analyzing paintings through four key elements (composition, drawing, color, and expression). Some academic readers critique his rigid ranking system for evaluating master painters, viewing it as overly formulaic. Others disagree with his strong preference for color over drawing/line work. No quantitative ratings are available on major review platforms. Most modern engagement with de Piles' work occurs through art history scholarship rather than direct reader reviews of his texts. His writings primarily circulate in French and English translations within academic settings.

Dialogue sur le coloris (1673) A treatise discussing the importance of color in painting, particularly addressing the ongoing debate between advocates of drawing versus color in French academic circles.

Conversations sur la connaissance de la peinture (1677) A series of dialogues examining the principles of painting, artistic judgment, and the appreciation of artworks.

L'Art de peinture (1668) A French translation and commentary of Charles Alphonse Dufresnoy's Latin poem "De arte graphica," with additional remarks on painting techniques.

Abrégé de la vie des peintres (1699) A comprehensive compilation of biographies of notable painters, including assessments of their work using de Piles' numerical rating system.

Cours de peinture par principes (1708) A systematic examination of painting principles, covering composition, drawing, color, and light, based on de Piles' lectures and theoretical writings.

Dissertation sur les ouvrages des plus fameux peintres (1681) An analysis of works by renowned painters, examining their techniques, styles, and contributions to art history.