Valentin de Boulogne (c. 1591 - 1632), sometimes referred to as Le Valentin, was a French painter.
Valentin was born in Coulommiers, France, where he was baptised in the parish of Saint-Denys on January 3, 1591, making 1590 his likely year of birth. The family name, also spelled Boullogne and Boulongne, appears to originate from Boulogne-sur-Mer, a city in northern France in the colony of Pas-de Calais, though the family had dwelt at Coulommiers since at least 1489. His father, also named Valentin, and his uncle Jean were both painters.
It can be presumed that Valentin would have first started painting in his father's studio prior to moving to Paris or Fontainebleau, and before leaving for Italy. The first specific mention of Valentin's being there in Italy is in the stati d'anime for 1620, when he was living in the parish of Santa Maria del Popolo. Prior to that date it can only be speculated on his whereabouts and activities.
While studying in Italy, Valentin was under the influence of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and Bartolomeo Manfredi, and studying under Simon Vouet. Who Valentin idolized and who he worked on, shows repeatedly in his own work. Caravaggio's early career as a painter focused on portraits and still-life, and is best known for becoming an influential religious painter. - wikipedia
