French artist-Mannerist, book Illustrator, belonged to the school of Fontainebleau.
In 1540−1550 worked with Primaticcio and Niccolo del abbate, in Fontainebleau. From 1561, was at the court of Catherine de Medici and Henry II of Valois. As court artist he also organized ceremonies of the coronation of Charles IX in Paris and the wedding of Henry IV, with Marguerite de Valois (in the XX century their allegorical imagery attracted the attention of F. Yates).
With the elegance recreates the tense, brittle atmosphere of the Valois court during the religious wars of the XVI century in France.
Caron paintings are in the Louvre, the Museum of Fontainebleau, several museums of Munich, the New world collections, private collections.
After a modest debut in Beauvais (sketches for stained glass Windows) Karon works at Fontainebleau, where his name is mentioned in the lists of Primaticcio among assistants Niccolo del abbate. In 1561 he was instructed to work at the court of Charles IX (work to be deferred for ten years and resumed without the participation of the artist). Settling in Paris, he married (1528); his three daughters married painters (portrait of Pierre Gourdes, engraver Thomas de Leagues and engraver léonard, Goldie). «The Royal painter, draughtsman and miniaturist» (1572), 1573 Karon together with poet Dora and Jermain Pilon works at the court of the Duke of Anjou, elected king of Poland (the future Henry III). In 1575 he was elected to the jury of the workshop of painters and sculptors. The famous artist, won the praise of Dora and Louis of Orleans, it is included in by his son-in-law, Goldie the list of «famous people who lived in France since 1500, along with Clouet and a Pole». At the end of his life, Karon works for engravers (Malinger). The only signature and dated picture of Karon is «Massacre triumviriv» (1566, Paris, Louvre). His name is signed, and eight engravings of his sons-in-law for a book by Blaise de Vigenère «philostratus» (1614, drawings. 1594 ?) and images of Henry IV (engraved Venison 1600) and «the Flagellation» (Paris, Louvre). According to sources, Karon is the author (together with Laramara) tapestry cartoons «the Story of Artemis» N. Wale; in addition, he is credited with some sketches of this famous series (figures — Paris, the Louvre and NAT. library), as well as a series of «History of French kings» and «the Valois Tapestries» (Florence, Uffizi), executed on sketches L. de Gera. It can be considered the author of certain paintings («Tiburtina sibyl», 1585 Paris, Musee du Louvre; «the Astronomers observing the Eclipse» 1572, Malibu, the J. Paul Getty Museum; «Abraham and Melchizedek», CA. 1594 ?, Paris, private collection; «the Resurrection of Christ», CA. 1593, Beauvais, musée des Beaux-arts; «the seasons», Paris and new York, private collection). In the workshop Karon was created the picture of the «Unfaithful wife» (Nantes, musée des Beaux-arts). Many of the paintings close to such comics as «the Presentation of the book and the sword» (Beauvais, musée des Beaux-arts) and «Renting Milan» (Ottawa, NAT. Gal.). And «the Execution of Thomas more» (Blois, Museum), «Woman of Sesta» and «Carousel elephant» (Paris, private collection) created by artists of his circle. Although the manner of Karon sufficiently dry, he is able to describe events and history in complex allegorical compositions. Court painter and the undisputed rival of the Italians, which he, however, owes a lot (especially Niccolo del abbate), Karon had some influence reflected in his work, events and spirit of his time. Today it is often confused with his assistants (Delon, Jean Cousin the Younger, Pellerin) and imitators.