Benoît Audran the Elder (23 November 1661 – 3 September 1721) was a French engraver. The second son of

Germain Audran Germain Audran (1631–1710) was a French engraver. Audran, who was born and died at Lyons, was instructed by his uncle Charles in the art of engraving in Paris. His merit was considerable, although very inferior to that of some others of his fam ...

, he was born at

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...

s. He received his first instruction in the art of

engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a burin. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an in ...

from his father; but had afterwards the advantage of studying under his uncle, the celebrated

Gérard Audran Gérard Audran (or Girard Audran) (2 August 164026 July 1703), was a French engraver of the Audran family, the third son of Claude Audran. Life He was born in Lyon and was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father. Foll ...

. Although he never equalled the admirable style of his uncle, he engraved many plates of historical subjects and portraits, which have justly established his reputation. His style, like that of Gérard, is bold and clear; his drawing of the figure is very correct; and there is a fine expression of character in his heads. He was received into the

Academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

in 1709, and was appointed engraver to the king, with a pension. He died in 1721, in the village of Ouzouer, near Sens. His portrait, after J. Vivien, has been engraved by his nephew Benoit, the younger. The following are his principal plates:

Portraits

*''Charles le Goux de la Berchere, Archbishop of Narbonne''; after L. de Boulogne. *''

Jean Baptiste Colbert Jean-Baptiste Colbert (; 29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683) was a French statesman who served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death in 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His lasting impact on the organization of the countr ...

''; after C. Lefebvre; oval. *'' Joseph Clement of Bavaria, Elector - Archbishop of Cologne''; after J. Vivien. *''Henri de Beringhen''; after

Nanteuil Nanteuil () is a commune of the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. See also * Communes of the Deux-Sèvres department The following is a list of the 256 communes of the Deux-Sèvres department of France. The communes cooperate in th ...

. 1710. *''Samuel Frisching, General of the Swiss'': after J. Huber. 1713. *''J. F. A. Willading''; after J. Huber. 1718. *''Equestrian Statue of

Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Ver ...

''; after Desjardins; by B. and J. Audran.

Subjects after various masters

*''The Baptism of Jesus Christ''; after Albani. *''David with the Head of Goliath''; after a picture in the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

, formerly attributed to Michelangelo, but now ascribed to Daniele da Volterra; two plates, engraved in 1716 and 1717. *''Moses defending the Daughters of Jethro''; after Le Brun. *''The Espousals of Moses and Zipporah''; after the same. *''The Elevation of the Cross''; after the same. 1706. *''The Descent from the Cross''; after the same. *''An allegorical subject — Holland accepting Peace''; after the same. *''Zephyrus and Flora''; after Ant. Coypel. *''The Pleasures of the Garden''; two friezes; after

Mignard Mignard is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: *François Mignard (born 1949), French astronomer **12898 Mignard, main belt asteroid discovered by François Mignard * Nicolas Mignard (1606–1668), French painter *Paul Mignar ...

; engraved by Benoit and Jean Audran. *''The Saviour with Martha and Mary''; after Le Sueur. *''St. Paul preaching at Ephesus''; after the same. *''Alexander drinking the Cup which his Physician presents him''; after the same. *''The Accouchement of Marie de Medicis''; after Rubens. *''The Exchange of the Two Queens''; after the same. Luxembourg_Gallery..html" ;"title="usée_du_Luxembourg.html" ;"title="he two last form part of the

Luxembourg_Gallery.">usée_du_Luxembourg.html"_;"title="he_two_last_form_part_of_the_Musée_du_Luxembourg">Luxembourg_Gallery. Several_other_prints_by_this_artist_are_specified_in_the_'_Dictionnaire_des_Artistes,'_by_Heineken,_and_in_Joseph_Meyer_(publisher).html" "title="Musée du Luxembourg">Luxembourg Gallery.">usée_du_Luxembourg.html" ;"title="he two last form part of the Musée du Luxembourg">Luxembourg Gallery. Several other prints by this artist are specified in the ' Dictionnaire des Artistes,' by Heineken, and in Joseph Meyer (publisher)">Meyer Meyer may refer to: People *Meyer (surname), listing people so named * Meyer (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name Companies * Meyer Burger, a Swiss mechanical engineering company * Meyer Corporation * Meyer Sound Labo ...

's ' Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon' upwards of two hundred are enumerated.

References

* 1661 births 1721 deaths Engravers from Lyon 17th-century French engravers 18th-century French engravers Members of the Académie des beaux-arts {{France-artist-stub