French painter, draughtsman and engraver, part of a family of artists, son of Jean Restout II. After studying with his father, in 1755 he came second in the Prix de Rome competition. Three years later he won the first prize for his Abraham Leading Isaac to the Sacrifice (untraced), which enabled him to go to Rome. Jean-Bernard was approved (agréé) by the Académie Royale in 1765, received (reçu) in 1769 and became a professor in 1771. Between 1767 and 1791 he frequently exhibited at the Paris Salon. However, with the advent of the French Revolution in 1789, he resigned from the Académie because of admission regulations that favoured privileged candidates. In 1793 he became president of the Commune des Arts formed by Jacques-Louis David, dedicated to the overthrow of the Académie's stranglehold on teaching, exhibitions and commissions. With the affair of the 'Garde-meuble', some suspicion fell on him, and he was thrown into prison, but with Robespierre's downfall on 9 Thermidor (27 July 1794), he was released. //