Jean-Louis Anselin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis Anselin was a French
engraver
. Amongst his best work is an engraved portrait of Madame Pompadour as "La Belle Jardinière" (pictured).
. His name was originally "Enslyn", and his grandfather, who came to France
after the reign of James II of England
, was of Scottish
origin. Jean-Louis studied engraving under Augustin de Saint-Aubin and became one of his best pupils. He started off by engraving subjects then in fashion, finding a ready market both in France and abroad at the end of the reign of Louis XV and his successor. "Le Satyre impatient" (after Jacques-Philippe Caresme
) was engraved under the direction of his teacher, Saint-Aubin.
Amongst his early, independent, works were two erotic compositions after Antoine Borel - "Vous avez la clef, mais il a trouvé la serrure" and "La faute est faite, permettez quil la répare" - and "The pleasures of Anacréon", after Jean-Bernard Restout
.
Not long after the death of King Louis XV's chief mistress, Madame Pompadour, he engraved a portrait of her as a shepherdess after Charles-André van Loo
. He also engraved portraits of Cardinal de Bouillon
; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
; Jean-Baptiste Rousseau
(the last for an edition of his works published in 1795), plus a smaller portrait of Rousseau; a small profile of Cicero after Moreau; and both drew and engraved a portrait of Hue de Miroménil (keeper of the seal and deputy to the Chancellor of France (Minister of Justice) from 1774 to 1787).
Amongst other large works, he engraved "The Siege of Calais", after Jean-Simon Berthélemy
. He dedicated the engraving to the National Assembly
, who accepted the honour officially in a session of 16 September 1789. The citizens of Calais
also showed their appreciation by making him a "Burgher
of Calais" on 21 January 1790. He also engraved, after Nicolas-André Monsiau
, "Molière
lisant son Tartuffe
chez Ninon de Lenclos.
Anselin engraved the frontispiece
, after Charles Monnet (1732-1808), for an edition of "The works of Bertin" (1791); a frontispiece after the sculptor Boizot
, representing time surrounded by allegorical figures; four illustrations, after Monnet, for the "Works of Évariste Parny"; and the illustrations, after Monsiau
, for "La Pitié", a poem by Jacques Delille
(1803), which he completed with three other engravers working under his supervision (Courbe, Berthaud and Duparc).
Anselin was nominated, with Bervic
, to the "education committee" for "La société populaire des arts" serving during one of the most violent times of the revolutionary era
.
Jena-Louis Anselin died in Paris on 15th March 1823.
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
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
. Amongst his best work is an engraved portrait of Madame Pompadour as "La Belle Jardinière" (pictured).
Life and work
Anselin was born in ParisParis
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 name was originally "Enslyn", and his grandfather, who came to France
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...
after the reign of James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, was of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
origin. Jean-Louis studied engraving under Augustin de Saint-Aubin and became one of his best pupils. He started off by engraving subjects then in fashion, finding a ready market both in France and abroad at the end of the reign of Louis XV and his successor. "Le Satyre impatient" (after Jacques-Philippe Caresme
Jacques-Philippe Caresme
Jacques-Philippe Caresme, a French historical painter, was born in Paris in 1734. He was doubtless a pupil of Charles Antoine Coypel, and was admitted into the Academy whilst still young, but expelled eight years later in consequence of misconduct in some pecuniary transaction...
) was engraved under the direction of his teacher, Saint-Aubin.
Amongst his early, independent, works were two erotic compositions after Antoine Borel - "Vous avez la clef, mais il a trouvé la serrure" and "La faute est faite, permettez quil la répare" - and "The pleasures of Anacréon", after Jean-Bernard Restout
Jean-Bernard Restout
Jean-Bernard Restout was a French painter.-Life:A son of Jean II Restout and like him a member of the Académie de Rouen, he won the Prix de Rome in 1758 and was aggregated to the Académie royale on his return from Italy in 1765, then received into it in 1769. However, he refused to conform to its...
.
Not long after the death of King Louis XV's chief mistress, Madame Pompadour, he engraved a portrait of her as a shepherdess after Charles-André van Loo
Charles-André van Loo
Carle or Charles-André van Loo was a French subject painter, and a younger brother of Jean-Baptiste van Loo and grandson of Jacob van Loo. He was the most famous member of a successful dynasty of painters of Dutch origin...
. He also engraved portraits of Cardinal de Bouillon
Cardinal de Bouillon
Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne was a French prelate and diplomat, known as the Cardinal de Bouillon.-Biography:...
; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux was a French poet and critic.-Biography:Boileau was born in the rue de Jérusalem, in Paris, France. He was brought up to the law, but devoted to letters, associating himself with La Fontaine, Racine, and Molière...
; Jean-Baptiste Rousseau
Jean-Baptiste Rousseau
Jean-Baptiste Rousseau was a French poet.-Biography:Rousseau was born in Paris, the son of a shoemaker, and was well educated. As a young man, he gained favour with Boileau, who encouraged him to write. Rousseau began with the theatre, for which he had no aptitude...
(the last for an edition of his works published in 1795), plus a smaller portrait of Rousseau; a small profile of Cicero after Moreau; and both drew and engraved a portrait of Hue de Miroménil (keeper of the seal and deputy to the Chancellor of France (Minister of Justice) from 1774 to 1787).
Amongst other large works, he engraved "The Siege of Calais", after Jean-Simon Berthélemy
Jean-Simon Berthélemy
Jean-Simon Berthélemy was a French history painter who was commissioned to paint allegorical ceilings for the Palais du Louvre, the Luxembourg Palace and others, in a conservative Late Baroque-Rococo manner only somewhat affected by Neoclassicism.Berthélemy was born in Laon, Aisne, the son of a...
. He dedicated the engraving to the National Assembly
National Constituent Assembly
The National Constituent Assembly was formed from the National Assembly on 9 July 1789, during the first stages of the French Revolution. It dissolved on 30 September 1791 and was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly.-Background:...
, who accepted the honour officially in a session of 16 September 1789. The citizens of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
also showed their appreciation by making him a "Burgher
Burgher
Burgher may refer to:* A citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to middle class* A resident of a burgh* A formally defined class in medieval German cities, usually the only group from which city officials could be drawn...
of Calais" on 21 January 1790. He also engraved, after Nicolas-André Monsiau
Nicolas-André Monsiau
Nicolas-André Monsiau was a French history painter and a refined draughtsman who turned to book illustration to supplement his income when the French Revolution disrupted patronage...
, "Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
lisant son Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
chez Ninon de Lenclos.
Anselin engraved the frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
, after Charles Monnet (1732-1808), for an edition of "The works of Bertin" (1791); a frontispiece after the sculptor Boizot
Louis-Simon Boizot
Louis-Simon Boizot was a French sculptor whose models for biscuit figures for Sèvres porcelain are better-known than his large-scale sculptures.- Biography :...
, representing time surrounded by allegorical figures; four illustrations, after Monnet, for the "Works of Évariste Parny"; and the illustrations, after Monsiau
Nicolas-André Monsiau
Nicolas-André Monsiau was a French history painter and a refined draughtsman who turned to book illustration to supplement his income when the French Revolution disrupted patronage...
, for "La Pitié", a poem by Jacques Delille
Jacques Delille
Jacques Delille was a French poet and translator. He was born at Aigueperse in Auvergne.-Life:He was an illegitimate child, and was descended by his mother from the chancellor De l'Hôpital. He was educated at the College of Lisieux in Paris and became an elementary teacher...
(1803), which he completed with three other engravers working under his supervision (Courbe, Berthaud and Duparc).
Anselin was nominated, with Bervic
Charles Clément Balvay
Charles Clément Balvay , known as Bervic, was a French engraver mainly working in intaglio and exclusively in burin...
, to the "education committee" for "La société populaire des arts" serving during one of the most violent times of the revolutionary era
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Jena-Louis Anselin died in Paris on 15th March 1823.