Sebastien Le Clerc
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Le Clerc was an etcher and engraver from Lorraine
, who worked in Paris specializing in subtle reproductive engravings of paintings. He was made graveur du Roi and attached to the Cabinet du Roi
.
Of his reproductive engravings the connoisseur and chronicler of artistic life Pierre-Jean Mariette
wrote in his Abecedario "If there has ever been an engraver who rendered himself celebrated in his profession, and who extended his capabilities beyond ordinary bounds, that is, without fear of contradiction, Sébastien Le Clerc".
, the son of Laurent Le clerc, a goldsmith and merchant of Metz, who taught his precocious son the rudiments of his art. He went to Paris in 1665, pursuing interests in geometry, physics, military architecture and perspective and supporting himself by providing illustrations for booksellers, but was counselled by the King's painter Charles Le Brun
to devote himself entirely to engraving. He was accepted into the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1672 and taught perspective at the Academy school. He was appointed engraver to Louis XIV
and was attached to the Gobelins
. He was granted the honorific cavaliere Romano by the Pope in 1706. He died at Paris
.
His richly illustrated treatise on architecture (Paris, 1714) was translated into English by Ephraim Chambers
as A treatise of architecture with remarks and observations. In a number of editions it served until the mid-eighteenth century as the only systematized and encyclopedic introduction to the decorative part of architecture, ornaments and enriched mouldings, that was available in English.
Two early sources on his career are the pious Éloge by abbé Vallemant (Paris, 1715) full of sentimental fabrications, and the Catalogue de l'Oeuvre de Le Clerc by Charles-Antoine Jombert (Paris, 1774). Edward Meaume published a catalogue raisonnée, Sébastien Le Clerc et son oeuvre, Paris, 1877. An exhibition of his work was mounted by the Bibliothèque municipale de Metz : 27 May-26 July 1980.
His son, a painter and draughtsman who worked for the Gobelins manufactory
, is distinguished as Sébastien Le Clerc the Younger (1676-1763).
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, who worked in Paris specializing in subtle reproductive engravings of paintings. He was made graveur du Roi and attached to the Cabinet du Roi
Menus-Plaisirs du Roi
The Menus-Plaisirs du Roi was, in the organisation of the French royal household under the Ancien Régime, the department of the Maison du Roi responsible for the "lesser pleasures of the King", which meant in practice that it was in charge of all the preparations for ceremonies, events and...
.
Of his reproductive engravings the connoisseur and chronicler of artistic life Pierre-Jean Mariette
Pierre-Jean Mariette
Pierre-Jean Mariette was a collector of and dealer in old master prints, a renowned connoisseur, especially of prints and drawings, and a chronicler of the careers of French Italian and Flemish artists...
wrote in his Abecedario "If there has ever been an engraver who rendered himself celebrated in his profession, and who extended his capabilities beyond ordinary bounds, that is, without fear of contradiction, Sébastien Le Clerc".
Career
Sébastien Le Clerc was born in MetzMetz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, the son of Laurent Le clerc, a goldsmith and merchant of Metz, who taught his precocious son the rudiments of his art. He went to Paris in 1665, pursuing interests in geometry, physics, military architecture and perspective and supporting himself by providing illustrations for booksellers, but was counselled by the King's painter Charles 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:...
to devote himself entirely to engraving. He was accepted into the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1672 and taught perspective at the Academy school. He was appointed engraver to 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...
and was attached to the Gobelins
Gobelins manufactory
The Manufacture des Gobelins is a tapestry factory located in Paris, France, at 42 avenue des Gobelins, near the Les Gobelins métro station in the XIIIe arrondissement...
. He was granted the honorific cavaliere Romano by the Pope in 1706. He died 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...
.
His richly illustrated treatise on architecture (Paris, 1714) was translated into English by Ephraim Chambers
Ephraim Chambers
Ephraim Chambers was an English writer and encyclopaedist, who is primarily known for producing the Cyclopaedia, or a Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.-Early life:...
as A treatise of architecture with remarks and observations. In a number of editions it served until the mid-eighteenth century as the only systematized and encyclopedic introduction to the decorative part of architecture, ornaments and enriched mouldings, that was available in English.
Two early sources on his career are the pious Éloge by abbé Vallemant (Paris, 1715) full of sentimental fabrications, and the Catalogue de l'Oeuvre de Le Clerc by Charles-Antoine Jombert (Paris, 1774). Edward Meaume published a catalogue raisonnée, Sébastien Le Clerc et son oeuvre, Paris, 1877. An exhibition of his work was mounted by the Bibliothèque municipale de Metz : 27 May-26 July 1980.
His son, a painter and draughtsman who worked for the Gobelins manufactory
Gobelins manufactory
The Manufacture des Gobelins is a tapestry factory located in Paris, France, at 42 avenue des Gobelins, near the Les Gobelins métro station in the XIIIe arrondissement...
, is distinguished as Sébastien Le Clerc the Younger (1676-1763).