Carle Van Loo was a prominent member of an artistic dynasty that included a great- grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle, two brothers, three nephews, and a son. His grandfather, Jacob Van Loo, left his native Amsterdam and settled in Paris. Raised in France and educated in Rome under Benedetto Luti, Van Loo returned home, helping to define the Rococo style at royal residences in Versailles and Fontainebleau. Van Loo painted historical, mythological and religious subjects, as well as anecdotal genre scenes and allegories, his versatility adding to his reputation as one of the greatest living artists in Europe. In his capacity as a teacher, Van Loo ascended to the directorship of the Académie Royale.