French engraving — Girardet

(Girardet) - a family of Swiss artists, working mainly in France and therefore ranked among its masters.

1) Abraham J. (1764-1823), draftsman and engraver on copper, pupil of Nicholl, who completed his artistic education in Rome; known as the performer of many fine prints, of which the best are: "Transfiguration" from Raphael, "The Last Supper" with F. de Champigny, "Triumph of Emperor Vespasian and Titus" with J. Romano and "The Death of Arnold von Winkelfried"

2) Charles-Samuel J. (1780-1863), brother and pupil of the previous one, was engaged first in engraving, and then with lithography.

3) Charm J. (1810-71), nicknamed Carl J., son of the previous painter, genre painter and landscape painter, a student of L. Cogne, wrote the views of Switzerland and the scenes of her folk life, after traveling to Spain and S. Africa depicted since 1836 also the nature and way of life of these countries. His main picture is "The Congregation of Protestants, Caught by the Catholic Army" (1842).

4) Edward-Airi J. (1819-80), the brother of the previous one, a painter and engraver, wrote patriarchal scenes from the life of the Swiss, but he earned fame, mainly thanks to his masterly engravings, performed by mezzotsinta. Of his works in this genre are especially successful "Four episodes of the Passion of Christ" ("Passion Friday", "Our Lady, Lost Feelings", "Return from Calvary" and "Our Lady Watching the Crown of Thorns") with P. Delaroche, "Girondins" with "Rafael with his workshop" with Jalaber, "Moliere at Louis XIV" with Jerome, "The Wedding of Henry IV" with Leschevalier-Chevignard and "The Spanish Wedding" with Fortuny.

5) Paul J. (1821-93), brother of the previous two, engraver, disciple of his father; worked first as a chisel, and then preferably as a mezzotinta, reproducing in his prints pictures of the newest painters. His main engravings are "The First Mass in Kabylia" with O. Vernet, "The Battle of Frediricia" with Simonsen, "The Colloquium in Poissy" with Robert-Fleury, "The Washington Crossing the Delaware River on the eve of the Trenton Battle" with Leitz, "The Golden Wedding "with L. Knaus," Magician "with him," Alsatian wedding "with Brion," Roll call of the last victims of terror "with Sh. Muller.