Fouquet (or Foucquet), Jean (c. 1420-c. 1481). The outstanding French painter of the 15th century. He was born at Tours and is known to have been in Rome between 1443 and 1447, when he painted a portrait, now lost, of Pope Eugenius IV. Much has been made of this Italian journey, the influence of which can be detected in the perspective essays and Classical architecture of his subsequent works, but the strongly scrulptural character of his painting, which was deeply rooted in his native tradition, did not succumb to Italian influence.