[Anet, Jean-Jacques-Baptiste]
(b Paris, Jan 2, 1676; d Lunéville, Aug 14, 1755). French violinist and composer. His father was Jean-Baptiste Anet. About 1695–6 he travelled to Rome and studied under Corelli who, according to contemporary reports, was so pleased with Baptiste’s performance of his music that he ‘embraced him tenderly and made him a present of his bow’, and subsequently regarded him as an adopted son. During 1699 and 1700 Baptiste travelled through Germany to Poland. On his return he entered the service of the Duke of Orléans, a position he abandoned after about a year to enter that of the Elector Maximilian Emanuel of Bavaria who, having lost his throne, was living in exile in France.
His début at the French court on 23 October 1701 attracted the notice of the Parisian newspaper Le mercure galant:
After his supper, the king heard in his study an exquisite concert of Italian airs, performed by Messrs Forqueray on the viol, Couperin at the harpsichord, and the young Baptiste (who is in the service of the Duke of Orléans) on the violin. The king appeared surprised at the excellence of the latter whom he had not yet heard....