Charles-François Poërson was a French painter and draughtsman. He began his training in the workshop of his father Charles, and after his father's death was taught by his uncle Noël Coypel. He also attended courses at the Royal Academy. When his uncle became director at the Académie de France in Rome, Poërson accompanied him and stayed in Italy from 1672 to 1676. On his extended journey home, he visited Venice, Parma and other cities in northern Italy. From 1677, Poërson was back in Paris and received his first commissions. Besides panel paintings, which he presented every year at the Salon, he also made designs for tapestries. From 1685, he taught at the Académie des Beaux-Arts and was appointed deputy director in 1695. In 1702, he was commissioned to paint the chapel of St Jerome in the Hôtel des Invalides. However, his work was a failure and was painted over immediately after completion on the instructions of the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Shortly afterwards, Poërson became director of the Académie de France in Rome and held the position until shortly before his death in 1725. In Rome, he specialised in portraits of influential personalities.