Alexis Francois Girard - Sir Christopher Wren

Le Maure (The Moor)

Alexis Francois Girard's "Le Maure (The Moor)": Sir Christopher Wren's, "Le Maure", represents one of the earliest original mezzotints created. In 1839, the arts scholar and artist, Marquis Leon Laborde published his "Histoire de la Gravure en maniere Noir" (History of Engraving in Mezzotint). For this important history, (De) Laborde also provided some original engravings and commissioned other contemporary artists for their work. Such is the case with "Le Maure", by Alexis Francois Girard, which represents a faithful and striking interpretation of Wren's famous mezzotint.

"The Plates ascribed to Sir Christopher are only two in number; both are heads of Negroes. Of one Delaborde gives a capital facsimile, by (Alexis Francois) Girard." *

Original Mezzotint (Maniere Noire) by Alexis Francois Girard designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Le Maure (The Moor)

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Title:	Le Maure (The Moor)
Engraver:	Girard, Alexis Francois (Vincennes, 1789 - Paris, 1870)
Designer:	Wren, Sir Christopher (East Knoyle, Wiltshire, 1632 - London, 1723)
Date:	1839
Medium:	Original Mezzotint (Maniere Noire)
Publisher:	Leon Laborde, Paris
Note:	Alexis Francois Girard: A highly regarded nineteenth century French engraver, Alexis Francois Girard studied art techniques in Paris, under Regnault. Known mostly for his work in mezzotint and roulette, Girard engraved works after both old masters and contemporary French artists, such as, Delaroche and Coignet. Alexis Francois Girard was a constant exhibitor at the Paris Salon from 1819 to 1869. His engraved art earned him medals in both 1819 and 1861. In 1866, Alexis Francois Girard received the Legion d'honneur from the French government.
	Sir Christopher Wren: England's most famous architect of the late seventeenth century, Sir Christopher Wren first achieved fame as both a mathematician and astronomer. He was in fact professor of astronomy at Gresham College, London, from 1657 to 1661. After the Great Fire of London (1666) he turned to architecture and designed no less than fifty two notable London churches. Sir Christopher Wren's great achievement is, no doubt, St. Paul's Cathedral (built between 1675 and 1710).
	As noted earlier, Sir Christopher engraved two original mezzotints. It is believed he learned the newly invented technique from Prince Rupert.
Reference:	* (Quotation) G. C. Williamson, "Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers", London, Bell & Sons, 1927, Vol. 5, p. 397.
	* (For Christopher Wren) Louis Kronenberger, ed., "Brief Lives: A Biographical Companion to the Arts", Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1971, pp. 884 & 885.
Size:	9 1/2 X 6 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed on early nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published in Leon Laborde's, "Histoire de la Gravure en maniere Noir" in 1839. A finely printed impression with full, rich tonal values and in very good condition throughout. "Le Maure" (The Moor) represents a prime, original example of the early nineteenth century French mezzotint art of Alexis Francois Girard.
Subject:	Alexis Francois Girard, Sir Christopher Wren, "Le Maure" (The Moor), original mezzotint, Leon Laborde's, "Histoire de la Gravure en maniere Noir", nineteenth century French engraver, famous architect of the late seventeenth century.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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