James Gabriel Huquier
Encyclopedia
James Gabriel Huquier was a portrait-painter and engraver. He was the son of the roccoco engraver Gabriel Huquier
and his wife Marie-Ann (Desvignes). One of Huquier's subjects was Chevalier d'Eon
, an early transvestite.
James Huquier assisted his father in many of his engravings. He married Anne Louise, the daughter of the engraver Jacques Chéreau
, in 1758 in Paris. He collaborated as an engraver and printseller with his father-in-law. They created a shop that sold wallpapers and prints in 1764 and two years later they had a wallpaper factory. The business appears to have struggled, however, and after making a number of excursions, Huquier left his family behind and moved to England.
Huquier emigrated to England with his father. He exhibited some pastels at the Royal Academy
and was also represented at the Society of Artists. Huquier also completed a number of pastel portraits which sold well. He had a self portrait in the Royal Academy
in 1771 and in 1785. The pastels illustrated are on paper and are of Mr Hall, a Bristol-based glass manufacturer, and his wife.
One of Huquier's more remarkable subjects was Chevalier d'Eon
, a French spy who served as an ambassador in London. Chevalier d'Eon was notably transvestite and an early transgender person . The Chevalier spent the end of her life living as a woman.
In 1783, Huquier lived in Cambridge but later retired to Shrewsbury
. As Huquier's wife Anne Louise had already died, he may have thought to benefit when his father-in-law and collaborator died. In the event, however, his three daughters Julie-Marie, Rosalie, and Anne-Geneviève were left shares, and were made wards of their cousin, Jacques-Francois Chéreau. Huquier died on 7 June 1805.
Gabriel Huquier
The entrepreneurial printseller Gabriel Huquier , established in rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, was a prominent engraver and designer of ornament in an advanced Rococo taste, a pivotal figure in the production of French 18th-century ornamental etchings and engravings who was himself a collector of works...
and his wife Marie-Ann (Desvignes). One of Huquier's subjects was Chevalier d'Eon
Chevalier d'Eon
Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont , usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon, was a French diplomat, spy, soldier and Freemason whose first 49 years were spent as a man, and whose last 33 years were spent as a woman...
, an early transvestite.
Life
Huquier was born in Paris in 1725. His father was an engraver in the style of Watteau and Boucher. His father's work based on the style of J. A. Meissonnier and Oppenord helped set styles in Louis XV's reign with regard to furniture, silver, and other decorative ornament.James Huquier assisted his father in many of his engravings. He married Anne Louise, the daughter of the engraver Jacques Chéreau
Jacques Chereau
Jacques Chéreau was a portrait engraver, printmaker and publisher of optical prints in a neighborhood of printmakers at the Rue Saint-Jacques variously given on prints as "au Grand St. Remy," "au Coq," or "au dessus de la Fontaine St...
, in 1758 in Paris. He collaborated as an engraver and printseller with his father-in-law. They created a shop that sold wallpapers and prints in 1764 and two years later they had a wallpaper factory. The business appears to have struggled, however, and after making a number of excursions, Huquier left his family behind and moved to England.
Huquier emigrated to England with his father. He exhibited some pastels at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and was also represented at the Society of Artists. Huquier also completed a number of pastel portraits which sold well. He had a self portrait in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1771 and in 1785. The pastels illustrated are on paper and are of Mr Hall, a Bristol-based glass manufacturer, and his wife.
One of Huquier's more remarkable subjects was Chevalier d'Eon
Chevalier d'Eon
Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont , usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon, was a French diplomat, spy, soldier and Freemason whose first 49 years were spent as a man, and whose last 33 years were spent as a woman...
, a French spy who served as an ambassador in London. Chevalier d'Eon was notably transvestite and an early transgender person . The Chevalier spent the end of her life living as a woman.
In 1783, Huquier lived in Cambridge but later retired to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. As Huquier's wife Anne Louise had already died, he may have thought to benefit when his father-in-law and collaborator died. In the event, however, his three daughters Julie-Marie, Rosalie, and Anne-Geneviève were left shares, and were made wards of their cousin, Jacques-Francois Chéreau. Huquier died on 7 June 1805.