Johann Julius Heinsius

Most probably this painter emigrated to the Netherlands in his youth, moved to France in 1767 and later stayed in Utrecht. Periods spent in Lille, Douai and Rouen (all in 1771 and 1774) are documented. In 1779 and 1782 Heinsius exhibited his works at the Salon de la Correspondance. He painted the daughters of Louis XV and was Premier Peintre at Versailles. At the beginning of the French Revolution he withdrew to Orléans, which he used as base for working in Evreux, Troyes and Paris. His last paintings are documented in Paris in 1811. He was married to Elisabeth de Brienne-Robin.
For a long time the works of this painter were confounded with the works of his brother, the Thuringian court painter Johann Ernst Heinsius (1731 Ilmenau -1794 Erfurt) in one œuvre.