French artist (7)
I believe the answer is:
matisse
'french artist' is the definition.
(I know that Matisse is a painter)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for matisse that I've seen before include "French impressionist" , "Is mates turned on the French painter" , "Leading fauvist painter, d. 1954" , "20th century French painter" , "French painter, Henri, d.1954" .)