Louis CARROGIS dit Louis de CARMONTELLE, La Malheureuse famille Calas, dessin, 1765 (Louvre)

Louis Carrogis Carmontelle was a multi-talented artist who made significant contributions to various fields such as drama, painting, architecture and stage design. He was born on 15 August 1717 in Paris, France. Carmontelle began his career as a playwright and wrote several plays, including "Le Philosophe sans le savoir" (The Philosopher Without Knowing), which was performed at the Comédie-Française in 1765. He also worked as a director and producer of plays. In addition to his work in the theatre, Carmontelle was also an accomplished painter. He is best known for his "transparent" landscapes, painted on long strips of paper or canvas and viewed through a light box. These works were popular with the aristocracy of the time and were used as decorative elements in their homes. Carmontelle was also an architect and designed several buildings, including the Château de Bagatelle in the Bois de Boulogne, commissioned by the Count of Artois. He also worked as a landscape architect, designing gardens for several estates. In addition to his work in architecture and painting, Carmontelle was a renowned stage designer. He designed sets for several operas and plays, including "Les Fêtes Vénitiennes" (The Venetian Feasts) and "Les Amours de Ragonde" (The Loves of Ragonde). Carmontelle died in Paris on 26 December 1806, leaving behind a legacy of artistic achievement that continues to inspire artists today.