Jean Daret house

Jean Daret was born in Brussels in 1613.

He settled in Aix en Provence, and in 1639 he married Madeleine Cabassole, from a well-known Aix family. They had two sons, Jean-Baptiste and Michel, who were both painters like himself.


He specialised in the decoration of houses, and in particular Hôtel de Chateaurenard on Rue Gaston Saporta in Aix-en-Provence. Daret's output in the south of France was considerable, and many paintings by him hang in churches in Aix (Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, 1640, Church of La Madeleine, 1637-1643, Saint-Esprit Church, 1653) and in the region (Cavaillon, Saint-Chamas, Salon, Lambesc, Saint-Paul-de-Vence).


He also produced the magnificent paintings commissioned by the lord of Covet for his Marignane Château.


Responsible for the paintings of Château de Vincennes, and having created the majestic decor of Hôtel de Châteaurenard, he was noticed by Louis XIV in 1660 and became the king's painter. He died in Aix-en-Provence at the age of 55.