'Taste of Nations'. Roger de Piles' (1635-1709) Diplomatic Take on the European Schools of Art

Diplomacy shaped Roger de Piles’ understanding of European art. After the failure of a secret diplomatic mission to the Dutch Republic in 1693, he wrote the manuscript of the seminal Abregé (1699) during his imprisonment at Loevestein Castle. His diplomatic experience included vital intelligence about the esprit (or character) of nations, which informed his novel idea of the ‘taste of nations’ for art. Thus, he systematically articulated the ‘taste of nations’ in close association with the styles of artistic schools, while remaining acutely aware of the continuous circulation of artists, styles, and artworks throughout Europe. After returning to France, he placed the Abregé in the service of the Académie Royale in order to boost the French school of art.