Joseph François Parrocel

1704 Avignon – 1781 Paris

The painter and etcher, Joseph François Parrocel, was the second eldest son of Pierre Parrocel and studied under his father. To continue his training Joseph went to Rome, where his presence is documented in 1736. After his return the artist lived and worked in Paris, where he was admitted to the Académie royale as a history painter in 1759. Interestingly, Parrocel lived next door to Diderot, with whom he was on close terms. Parrocel produced a small etched oeuvre comprising eight sheets in all.