Guillaume Thomas Raphaël Taraval (1701 – 1750)

• Was a French born, Swedish painter.
• Guillaume Thomas Raphaël Taraval was born in France, the son of François Taraval and Catherine Masson.
• Raised by his foster-father Henry Guillemard who also gave him the first lessons in painting and drawing.
• He continued his education with the artist Claude Audran.

• In 1727 married his foster-father's daughter Marie-Anne François Guillemard (b. ca 1705).

• Together with other French artists, Taraval arrived in Stockholm in 1732.

• Taraval was mainly active in the Stockholm Palace.

• He produced a series of elegant ceiling paintings and introduced the Rococo decorative style to Sweden.

• He also painted portraits, altarpieces and still lives, and prepared sketches for a chandelier in the chapel, which was then completed by his disciple Johan Pasch.

• He played a major part in the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, becoming its first director on its foundation in 1735.

• In 1739, he was granted leave to travel to Paris to study the new latest developments in French art, returning to Sweden in 1740.

• He died during 1750 in Stockholm.

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