Jean Simon Berthélemy: A Baroque Visionary Embracing Rococo Elegance Jean Simon Berthélemy (1743 – 1811) stands as a pivotal figure in French art history, representing the waning years of the Baroque and the burgeoning influence of Rococo aesthetics. Born in Laon, France, he descended from a family steeped in artistic tradition—his father was a sculptor—a lineage that undoubtedly fostered his early fascination with visual representati…