Jacques Philippe Le Bas, illumination, engraving, eighteenth century

Interesting engraving by jacques-philippe le bas representing the illuminations set up on the evening of august 29, 1739 at the crossroads of st denys and ferronnerie for the wedding of madame de france I. It shows the many people on the street in gala attire and on horseback. Jacques-philippe le bas, a french engraver by profession, was born in july 1707 in paris and died in april 1783. From the age of 14, in 1721, he was placed with antoine hérisset (engraver, son of an architect) by his mother, who already detected in her son a certain talent for drawing. In 1735, he was approved by the royal academy of painting and sculpture to officially reproduce the painters of the academy, but to do so officially, he had to produce two engraved portraits. Unfortunately, he was not accepted and did not obtain the title of "king's engraver". It was only eight years later, in 1743, that he had the opportunity to "try his luck again" and finally obtained his license. From 1748, he worked as an associate member of the academy of rouen, thanks to his friend jean-baptiste descamps (french painter and art historian). In total, there will be more than 500 pieces signed with his name.

Ref. : URH9H1E7