Gérard Audran

He was born in Lyon and was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father. Following the example of his brother, he went to Paris to perfect himself in his art. In 1666, he 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.[1] He is reputed to have worked for or trained with Carlo Maratta.

Crossing of the Granicus after Charles Le Brun (Zoom)

That great patron of the arts, J. B. Colbert, was so struck with Audran's works that he persuaded Louis XIV to recall him to Paris. On his return, Audran 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. He died in Paris.[1]

His engravings of Le Bruns Battles of Alexander are regarded as the best of his numerous works. Gerard published in 1683 a work entitled Les Proportions du corps humain mesurés sur les plus belles figures de l'antiquité.[1]

Alexander Entering Babylon. Gérard Audran after Charles LeBrun, original print first published 1675, engraving, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC.

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Attribution:

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Audran". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 898–899.
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Audran" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.