Born in Paris in 1679, Jean-François de Troy was trained by his father, the painter Jean de Troy. He spent several years in Italy during his youth, an experience that deeply influenced his artistic development and mastery of the Rococo style.

He is recognized for his versatility, working across easel painting, fresco, and tapestry design. His signature contribution to art history is the development of the tableaux de modes, a genre that captured the refined manners and leisure activities of the French elite with a spirited, observational approach.

De Troy served as the director of the French Academy in Rome during the later stages of his career. His legacy remains defined by his role as a leading history painter of the 18th century and his ability to bridge the gap between grand historical narrative and intimate genre scenes.