French painter, part of a family of artists, father of Louis-Gustave Taraval and Hugues Taraval. He first came to Sweden in 1732 and was mainly active in Stockholm. Taraval produced a series of elegant ceiling paintings and introduced the Rococo decorative style to Sweden. He also painted portraits, altarpieces and still-lifes. He also played a major part in the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, becoming its first director on its foundation in 1735. //