Charles LE BRUN, (1619-1690). This painter studied in Rome alongside Poussin. On his return to Paris he continued composing easel-paintings, but also began a career decorating large ensembles such as that in the Hotel Lambert. Fouquet called upon Le Brun to supervise the decoration of Vaux-le-Vicomte. He designed furniture and statues, directed the tapestry works founded by Fouquet at Maincy, the parish of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Time prevented him from painting the cupola of the 'Grand Salon', the "Palace of the Sun", a work whose ambition was unprecedented in the history of French art. After the fall of Fouquet, he found patrons in Colbert and in Louis XIV. First painter to the King, director of the Gobelins and chancellor of the Academy in 1665, he presided over the decoration of Versailles and until Colbert's death, had a virtual dictatorship over the arts.