Antique Coquilles Argonaut Mollusk Shell Engraving, Montfert Saint-Aubin

Description

Antique engraving from a book showing two variations of the Argonaut Mollusk shell. Drawn by D. Montfert. Engraved by Augustin … more Antique engraving from a book showing two variations of the Argonaut Mollusk shell. Drawn by D. Montfert. Engraved by Augustin de Saint-Aubin.

“Augustin de Saint-Aubin sometimes styled Auguste de Saint-Aubin (3 January 1736 – 9 November 1807), belongs to an important dynasty of French designers and engravers. Augustin de Saint-Aubin was born on 3 January 1736 in Paris to the king's embroiderer Gabriel Germain de Saint-Aubin (1696–1756).[1] He came from a family of artists and designers, which included his six siblings: brothers Charles-Germain de Saint-Aubin and Gabriel-Jacques de Saint-Aubin, as well as Catherine Louise, Louis-Michel, Athanasius, and Agathe, who were collectively known as the ""Book of Saint-Aubin"".[2] His niece, Marie-François, daughter of Charles, was an artist as well.[3]

Trained by his brother, he later studied with Étienne Fessard, Nicolas-Henry Tardieu[1] and Laurent Cars. His first submission to the Salon was an etching in 1752.[4] He was approved by the Académie Royale in 1771, but did not graduate, as he failed to submit one of the required reception pieces.[1] He took many commissions for commercial purposes like bookplates, frontispieces, invitations, tradesmen's cards, and programs,[5] but also illustrated books such as the Decameron by Boccaccio.[4]

In 1776 he was appointed as the official engraver at the Bibliothèque Royale (Royal Library). He later worked on etching the collection of antique gems owned by the Duc d'Orléans.[1] Emmanuel Bocher's 1879 catalog contains over 1300 works by Augustin, but he is most remembered for his portraits[1] and his engravings of portraits by Charles-Nicolas Cochin the younger (1715–1790).[4] In his lifetime, Augustin was considered the most successful of the siblings, but he is the one about whom least is now known.[6]

He was married to Louise-Nicole Godeau.[6] He died 9 November 1807 in Paris.

Dimensions

17” x 0.75” x 21” / Sans Frame – 4.125” x 6.375” (Width x Depth x Height) less