Gérard Audran
Encyclopedia
Gérard Audran (August 2, 1640 – July 26, 1703), was a French
engraver of the Audran
family, the third son of Claude Audran
.
He was born in Lyon
and was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father. Following the example of his brother, he went to Pairs to perfect himself in his art. He there, 1666, engraved for Le Brun
Constantines Battle with Laxentius, his Triumph, and the Stoning of Stephen, which gave great satisfaction to the painter, and placed Audran in the very first rank of engravers at Paris
. The next year he set out for Rome
, where he resided three years, and engraved several fine plates. He is reputed to have worked for or trained with Carlo Maratta
. That great patron of the arts, J. B. Colbert
, as so struck with Audran's works, that he persuaded Louis XIV
to recall him to Paris. On his return he applied himself assiduously to engraving, and was appointed engraver to the king, from whom he received great encouragement. In the year 1681 he was admitted to the council of the Royal Academy
. He died in Paris
.
His engravings of Le Bruns Battles of Alexander are regarded as the best his numerous works. Gerard published in 1683 a work entitled Les Proportions du corps humain mesurés sur les plus belles figures de l'antiquité.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engraver of the Audran
Audran
The Audrans were a family of French artists, natives of Paris and Lyons.*Charles Audran I *Claude Audran I *Germain Audran , son of Charles I*Claude Audran II , nephew of Charles I...
family, the third son of Claude Audran
Claude Audran the Elder
Claude Audran the Elder, the brother of Charles, was born in Paris in 1597. After receiving some instruction from Charles, he removed to Lyons, where he died in 1677. Whether he visited Rome or not is uncertain. His engravings, which are signed either Claude Audran, or CI. Audran, are...
.
He was born in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father. Following the example of his brother, he went to Pairs to perfect himself in his art. He there, 1666, engraved for Le Brun
Charles Le Brun
Charles Le Brun , a French painter and art theorist, became the all-powerful, peerless master of 17th-century French art.-Biography:-Early life and training:...
Constantines Battle with Laxentius, his Triumph, and the Stoning of Stephen, which gave great satisfaction to the painter, and placed Audran in the very first rank of engravers at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The next year he set out for Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he resided three years, and engraved several fine plates. He is reputed to have worked for or trained with Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta or Maratti was an Italian painter, active mostly in Rome, and known principally for his classicizing paintings executed in a Late Baroque Classical manner. Although he is part of the classical tradition stemming from Raphael, he was not exempt from the influence of Baroque painting...
. That great patron of the arts, J. B. Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
, as so struck with Audran's works, that he persuaded Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
to recall him to Paris. On his return he applied himself assiduously to engraving, and was appointed engraver to the king, from whom he received great encouragement. In the year 1681 he was admitted to the council of the Royal Academy
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
His engravings of Le Bruns Battles of Alexander are regarded as the best his numerous works. Gerard published in 1683 a work entitled Les Proportions du corps humain mesurés sur les plus belles figures de l'antiquité.