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Jean Daullé

(1703 Abbeville – 1763 Paris)

Self-portrait of Hyacinthe Rigaud at the Easel, Painting the Portrait of his Wife, Elisabeth de Gouix. Etching and engraving. 46.2 x 33.2 cm. 1742. Le Blanc 45; PortalisBéraldi 104. Watermark: Large Coat of Arms.

This masterfully executed portrait of the painter prince, Hyacinthe Rigaud, was taken in 1742 to mark Daullé’s official admission to the Academy. Portalis-Béraldi rightly describes the engraving as ‘la plus belle de l’oeuvre de Daullé’ for it is indeed a supreme technical achievement. Daullé’s refined and extremely differentiated engraving technique and magnificent treatment of the subject matter evidently met with great recognition on the part of the members of the Academy who decided that, since his debut work comprised two portraits, he need not submit the obligatory second engraving. Daullé, a native of the northern French town of Abbeville, went to Paris as a young man and achieved an initial succès d’estime in 1735 with a portrait engraving after Mignard. His skill as an engraver brought him to the notice of no less than the court painter, Hyacinthe Rigaud, who subsequently commissioned him to make reproductive engravings after his own works. Daullé bequeathed an extensive printed oeuvre including ninety-four portrait engravings. In the latter part of his career he was often assisted by Johann Georg Wille (1715–1808), whose rise was largely attributable to Daullé’s support. A very fine, nuanced and contrasting impression with thread margins. Minor defects, otherwise in excellent condition.

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