The life of Francois Clouet lies somewhat in the dark of history and many data about him are not completely certain. The only thing we know is that his father Jean Clouet, who probably used to be called Janet Cloet, came from near the city of Brussels, which at the time belonged to the Netherlands. He later lived in France at the court of King Francis I as court painter and valet, although he was not French. The young Francois Clouet was probably born around 1510. He was granted French civil rights. Sometime around 1540 he inherited, so to speak, the office of his father and also became court painter and chamber servant, first under King Francis I, then under his son and successor Henry II and finally under King Charles IX. The Clouets were a dynasty of painters. In addition to Jean Clouet, who was also referred to as Janet or Jeannhet in some documents, there was another brother who was court painter to Marguerite d'Angouléme, who was King Francis' sister and was called Clouet de Navarre. The name Janet or Jeannhet is also sometimes used in some historical sources as the surname of the son and nephew. These name entanglements mean that it is sometimes not entirely clear to which of these three artists a particular painting can be attributed. At least this is true for his early works. In the later works the father Clouet probably did not live.
In any case Francois Clouet was a very good portrait painter of his time. He painted King Francis I, King Charles IX, Marguerite of France, Catherine of the Medici and Empress Elisabeth of Austria and many other nobles, but also scenes from society. His masterpiece is the portrait of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, a chalk drawing. The special thing about Francois Clouet's painting style was his absolute attention to detail. Every seam of clothing, every wrinkle, every piece of jewellery and every peculiarity in the face and figure were meticulously depicted. He even took off the death mask of Henry II in order to be able to paint a lifelike picture of the ruler that was to be shown at the state funeral. The artist died at the age of about 72 years. He left behind two illegitimate daughters who had cared for him and now went to a nunnery. His fortune and the work he left behind were considerable.
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 - (MeisterDrucke-122186).jpg "Mary Stuart (1542-87) by François Clouet")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-227136).jpg "Mary Stuart (1542-87) by François Clouet")
 - (MeisterDrucke-227136).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-9219).jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Miniature of Mary Queen of Scots, c.1560 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Elizabeth of Austria, Wife of King Charles IX of France by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, ca 1571-1572 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Charles IX by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542 - 1587. Reigned 1542 - 1567 in White Mourning by François Clouet")
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 c1565 - (MeisterDrucke-101529).jpg "King Charles IX of France, c.1565 by François Clouet")
 c1565 - (MeisterDrucke-101529).jpg)
.jpg "Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France by François Clouet")
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.jpg "A Lady in Her Bath by François Clouet")
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_-_Painting_by_Franc_-_(MeisterDrucke-1026374).jpg "Portrait of Elisabeth of Austria (1554-1592, Queen of France) by François Clouet")
_-_Painting_by_Franc_-_(MeisterDrucke-1026374).jpg)
 Queen of France c - (MeisterDrucke-277666).jpg "Portrait of Elizabeth of Austria (1554-92) Queen of France, c.1570 by François Clouet")
 Queen of France c - (MeisterDrucke-277666).jpg)
_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004472).jpg "Portrait of Charles II Duke of Lorraine and Bar by François Clouet")
_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004472).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1017594).jpg "Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Countess of Lincoln by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1017594).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Charles IX, 1560 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Pierre Quthe, Friend of Francois Clouet, Humanist and Pharmacist by François Clouet")
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_Drawing_a_blo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004445).jpg "Portrait of Jean Du Plessis, Lord of the Bourgonniere by François Clouet")
_Drawing_a_blo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004445).jpg)
_(Budaeus)_(1467-1540)_Master_of_the_Royal_Boo_-_(MeisterDrucke-999712).jpg "Portrait of Guillaume Bude (Budee) (Budaeus) (1467-1540), Master of the Royal Bookshop of Francois I in Fontainebleau by François Clouet")
_(Budaeus)_(1467-1540)_Master_of_the_Royal_Boo_-_(MeisterDrucke-999712).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-876399).jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-876399).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-999800).jpg "The Bath of Diana by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-999800).jpg)
.jpg "Diana Bathing, 1558-59 by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-419911).jpg "Portrait of Henry VI of England by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-419911).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Jeanne III of Navarre 1528-1572, 1570 by François Clouet")
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_1559_-_(MeisterDrucke-243760).jpg "Portrait of Henri II of France (1519-59) by François Clouet")
_1559_-_(MeisterDrucke-243760).jpg)
.jpg "Francois de Lorraine, Duke of Guise by François Clouet")
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.jpg "The Bath of Diane, c1510 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Princess Elizabeth of Austria, c1571 by François Clouet")
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 in white mourning 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-105202).jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) in white mourning, 1560 by François Clouet")
 in white mourning 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-105202).jpg)
 King of France - (MeisterDrucke-98897).jpg "Charles IX, King of France by François Clouet")
 King of France - (MeisterDrucke-98897).jpg)
_Queen_of_Navarre_(1528-1572)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1002880).jpg "Portrait of Joan of Albret, Queen of Navarre. Painting by Francois Clouet by François Clouet")
_Queen_of_Navarre_(1528-1572)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1002880).jpg)
_Mother_of_Henry_IV_Dra_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004480).jpg "Portrait of Joan of Albret, Queen of Navarre, Mother of Henry IV by François Clouet")
_Mother_of_Henry_IV_Dra_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004480).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Charles IX of Valois, King of France by François Clouet")
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_Duc_dAlencon_-_(MeisterDrucke-54695).jpg "Portrait of Francois Hercule de France (1554-84) Duc d")
_Duc_dAlencon_-_(MeisterDrucke-54695).jpg)
 in white mourning 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-93823).jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) in white mourning, 1560 by François Clouet")
 in white mourning 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-93823).jpg)
_Queen_of_France_wife_of_Charles_IX_-_(MeisterDrucke-971964).jpg "Portrait of Elisabeth of Austria (1554-1592), Queen of France, wife of Charles IX by François Clouet")
_Queen_of_France_wife_of_Charles_IX_-_(MeisterDrucke-971964).jpg)
.jpg "Full Length Portrait of a Gentleman in a Black Doublet by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1560301).jpg "Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1560301).jpg)
 c1570 - (MeisterDrucke-130016).jpg "Portrait of a Man, Possibly Don John of Austria, c.1570 by François Clouet")
 c1570 - (MeisterDrucke-130016).jpg)
.jpg "Catherine of Medici, Queen of France, as Widow by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Pierre Quthe, Apothecary by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Elisabeth of Valois, Queen of Spain by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan, 1558 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Mellin de Saint-Gelais, French Poet by François Clouet")
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 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-62691).jpg "Francois II, 1560 by François Clouet")
 1560 - (MeisterDrucke-62691).jpg)
_Musee_des_-_(MeisterDrucke-972709).jpg "Equestrian portrait of Francis I of France by François Clouet (c. 1510 - 1572). Musee des Uffizi, Florence by François Clouet")
_Musee_des_-_(MeisterDrucke-972709).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-136832).jpg "Portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, c.1549 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "A Love Letter by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of François de Scepeaux by François Clouet")
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.jpg "The Love Letter by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, at the Age of 12 or 13 by François Clouet")
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_Drawing_a_black_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004478).jpg "Portrait of Francois de Vendome, vidame de Chartres by François Clouet")
_Drawing_a_black_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004478).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of the Connetable Anne de Montmorency by François Clouet")
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_second_wife_of_Francois_I_Dra_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004453).jpg "Portrait of Queen Eleonore of Habsburg, Second Wife of Francois I by François Clouet")
_second_wife_of_Francois_I_Dra_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004453).jpg)
.jpg "Diane de Poitiers by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Judith of Assigny, wife of Jean de Crequi, sire of Cannaples by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, Wife of King Charles IX by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Charles IX, King of France by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of King Charles IX of France by François Clouet")
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_Drawing_a_blood_and_black_s_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004474).jpg "Portrait of Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine by François Clouet")
_Drawing_a_blood_and_black_s_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004474).jpg)
_Brustbild_1561_-_(MeisterDrucke-803541).jpg "King Charles IX of France (1550-1574), Bust Portrait. 1561 by François Clouet")
_Brustbild_1561_-_(MeisterDrucke-803541).jpg)
_second_son_of_Henry_II_and_Catherine_de_Medic_-_(MeisterDrucke-965012).jpg "Portrait of Charles IX (1550-1574), Second Son of Henry II and Catherine de Medicis, King of France at the Death of His Brother Francois II (1544-1560), Married in 1570 Elizabeth of Austria (1554-1592), His Reign is Marked by the Wars of Religion by François Clouet")
_second_son_of_Henry_II_and_Catherine_de_Medic_-_(MeisterDrucke-965012).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1661625).jpg "Equestrian portrait of King Francois I by Francois Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1661625).jpg)
_circa_1547_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004458).jpg "Portrait of Henry II, King of France by François Clouet")
_circa_1547_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004458).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-239376).jpg "Portrait of The Duke of Montmorency (1493-1567) by François Clouet")
 - (MeisterDrucke-239376).jpg)
.jpg "Henri II, King of France by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1554773).jpg "Portrait of Hercule-François, Duke of Alençon and Anjou (1555-1584) by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1554773).jpg)
.jpg "Marguerite de Valois, c1560 by François Clouet")
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 1562 - (MeisterDrucke-237215).jpg "Pierre Quthe (1519-90), 1562 by François Clouet")
 1562 - (MeisterDrucke-237215).jpg)
 Duchesse de Longueville - (MeisterDrucke-108618).jpg "Jacqueline de Rohan, Duchesse de Longueville by François Clouet")
 Duchesse de Longueville - (MeisterDrucke-108618).jpg)
_Cardinal_de_Chatillon_Painting_by_Franco_-_(MeisterDrucke-946337).jpg "Portrait of Odet de Coligny (1517-1571) Cardinal de Chatillon by François Clouet")
_Cardinal_de_Chatillon_Painting_by_Franco_-_(MeisterDrucke-946337).jpg)
.jpg "Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny by François Clouet")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-132008).jpg "Portrait of Anne de Pienne, Lady in Waiting to Mary Stuart, c.1560 by François Clouet")
 - (MeisterDrucke-132008).jpg)
_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004451).jpg "Portrait of François de Lorraine, Duke of Guise by François Clouet")
_Drawing_a_blood_and_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004451).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of King Charles IX of France by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1016341).jpg "Portrait of King Henry IV of France (1553-1610) by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1016341).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Marguerite de Valois by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Antoine de Crussol, First Duke of Uzes by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Portrait of Francoise Mareschal of the Parc, Dame of Mitte-de-Miolans by François Clouet")
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_Drawing_with_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004467).jpg "Portrait of Diane de Poitiers, Duchess of Valentinois by François Clouet")
_Drawing_with_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004467).jpg)
_King_of_France_Drawing_with_black_stone_and_b_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004447).jpg "Portrait of Henry II, King of France by François Clouet")
_King_of_France_Drawing_with_black_stone_and_b_-_(MeisterDrucke-1004447).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of King Henry II of France (Copy) by François Clouet")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-180527).jpg "Charles IX by François Clouet")
 - (MeisterDrucke-180527).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of King Charles IX of France, 1561 by François Clouet")
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_Painting_by_Francois_C_-_(MeisterDrucke-946995).jpg "Portrait of the Apothecary Pierre Quthe (1519-ca1588) by François Clouet")
_Painting_by_Francois_C_-_(MeisterDrucke-946995).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Elisabeth of Austria by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-572031).jpg "Charles IX (1550-74) by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-572031).jpg)
_(related_to_drawing_in_Hermitage_St_Petersburg)_-_(MeisterDrucke-295198).jpg "Portrait of Charles IX (related to drawing in Hermitage, St. Petersburg) by François Clouet")
_(related_to_drawing_in_Hermitage_St_Petersburg)_-_(MeisterDrucke-295198).jpg)
_King_of_France_Painting_by_Francois_-_(MeisterDrucke-951033).jpg "Portrait in foot of Charles IX (1550 - 1574) King of France by François Clouet")
_King_of_France_Painting_by_Francois_-_(MeisterDrucke-951033).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Lady, previously identified as Lady Jane Grey by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Equestrian Portrait of Francis I, King of France. c. 1540 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Countess of Lincoln by François Clouet")
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_Draw_-_(MeisterDrucke-1024547).jpg "Portrait of Anne de Pisseleu, wife of Louis de Coesmes, Lord of Lucé. Drawing with black stone and blood by Francois Clouet by François Clouet")
_Draw_-_(MeisterDrucke-1024547).jpg)
.jpg "Madame de Valentinois by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-275949).jpg "Portrait of King Henri II of France by François Clouet")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-275949).jpg)
.jpg "Head of a Satyr, from Diana Bathing by François Clouet")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-212005).jpg "Miniature of Catherine de Medici, c.1555 by François Clouet")
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.jpg "Queen Claude, first wife of King Francis I by François Clouet")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-83451).jpg "Portrait of Henri II by François Clouet")
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