Gérard Audran

N. PoussinGérard Audran (or Girard Audran) (1640, Lyon - 1703, Paris) was a French engraver of the Audran family, the third son of Claude Audran.

He was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father; and, following the example of his brother, 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.

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".

References

*1911