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| Nicolas-Henri Tardieu (1674–1749) | ||||||||||
| One of the most prominent French engravers and designers, Tardieu 'the elder' was born in Paris to a family of artists. Initially, he studied under Pierre Lepautre, before furthering his education with Pierre Lepautre, Gérard Audran and Benoît Audran. He was a skilled draughtsman, advancing his plates significantly in etching, and later finishing them with the graver in a way that reflected his refined taste. Few before him had so successfully combined free hatching with carefully ordered lines. Tardieu's prints feature a richness of tone, generally exhibiting a bold and well-balanced chiaroscuro. Over the course of his long career, he produced many works, some of his finest being engravings after paintings by Antoine Watteau. He was appointed engraver to the king and a member of the Royal Academy in 1720. He also contributed to several of the era’s most significant publications, engraving plates for the Collection Crozat, the Galerie de Versailles, and others. Tardieu died in Paris. | ||||||||||
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Art