Louis-Jacques Goussier

Louis-Jacques Goussier (Paris 1722 - Paris 1799) was a French illustrator and encyclopedist.

Career

Born poor, he first studies mathematics at Pierre-André Leguay de Prémontval (1716-1764) free school, and then becomes a teacher himself. The school closes in 1744 and Goussier starts an illustrator career. He works with scientists such as La Condamine, Étienne-Claude de Marivetz and Roland de La Platière. In 1792, he is hired by the Minister of the Interior (arts and craft division) and in 1794 by the Comité de Salut public (weapons division).

Personal life

In 1751, he weds Marie-Anne-Françoise Simmonneau. They had two children. His wife sends him to jail, once, allegating he had no religion and didn't have respect for divine and human laws. Ten days later she changed her mind, telling he was a honest man with spirit. He was known as a beloved person, a good husband and a good friend. He liked both pleasure and science.
Denis Diderot made a portrait of Goussier in "Jacques le fataliste et son maître", where he stands as "La Gousse".

Diderot's encyclopedia

Louis-Jacques Goussier is famous for his work on Diderot's encyclopedia. He was the first drawer to be hired on that project, in 1747 and he did himself more than 900 plates and directed the drawing of the others. Some call Goussier the "third encyclopedist", after Diderot and d'Alembert. Goussier spent ten years visiting people of all arts and techniques (textile, smith, mill, glass, etc.), and twenty-five years drawing. He also wrote sixty-one articles.