Israel Silvestre

Israel Silvestre(13 August 1621 inNancy– 11 October 1691 inParis),calledthe Youngerto distinguish him from his father, was a prolific French draftsman,etcherand print dealer who specialized in topographical views and perspectives of famous buildings.

Portrait of Israel Silvestre byCharles Le Brun,c. 1670

Orphaned at an early age, he was taken in by his uncle inParis,Israel Henriet, an etcher and print-seller, and friend ofJacques Callot.Between 1630 and 1650 Silvestre travelled widely in France, Spain and Italy, which he visited three times, and later worked up his sketches as etchings, which were sold singly and in series. His work, especially of Venetian subjects published in the 1660s, influenced eighteenth-century painters ofvedutesuch asLuca CarlevarisandCanaletto,who adapted his compositions.

In 1661 he inherited Henriet's stock of plates, among which was a large part of the works of Callot, and many of those ofStefano della Bella.In 1662 he was appointeddessinateur et graveur du Roiand in 1673 he was appointed drawing-master toLouis,le Grand Dauphin.From 1668 he was granted workshop space in the galleries of theLouvre,where the practice of housing eminent artists and craftsmen was a tradition that was originated underHenri IV.Silvestre's atelier was large: he had at least two pupils who had separate careers as engravers, François Noblesse and Meunier. In 1670Charles Le Brunrecommended him for membership in theAcadémie royale de peinture et de sculpture.In 1675 his son, the artistLouis de Silvestre,was born atSceaux.

At his death he left a large collection of drawings, more than a thousand engravings, and other works of art to his sons, whose own artistic tastes he had nurtured. The family collection was sold at auction in 1810.

Gallery of images

The royal party at the enchanted gardens at theRoyal Opera of Versailles,theater during the reign ofLouis XIV,on May 7-13 1664.

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  The first feast day(Première Journée) at L'Île Enchantée (The Enchanted Island), given byLouis XIVatRoyal Opera of Versailles(Versailles Theatre).Cruising by the Knights of Charlemagne(7 May 1664).Bibliothèque nationale de France,Paris.
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  The second feast day(Deuxième Journée) at L'Île Enchantée (The Enchanted Island), given byLouis XIVatRoyal Opera of Versailles(Versailles Theatre).Princess d'Elide(8 May 1664).
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  The third feast day(Troisième Journée) at L'Île Enchantée (The Enchanted Island), given byLouis XIVatRoyal Opera of Versailles(Versailles Theatre).Ballet at the castle Alcina(9 May 1664).

Sources

• Regnault-Delalande, F.L. (1810).Catalogue raisonné d'objets d'arts du cabinet de feu M. de Silvestre(in French). Paris: Self published.
• Silvestre, E. de (1869).Renseignements sur quelques peintres et graveurs des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles: Israël Silvestre et ses descendants,2nd edition. Paris: Impr. de Madame veuve Bouchard-Huzard.OCLC16849729Copyat Google Books.

Further reading

• Faucheux, L.E. (1857).Catalogue raisonné de toutes les estampes qui forment l'oeuvre d'Israel Silvestre, précédé d'une notice sur sa vie(in French). Paris: Vve J. Renouard.

External links

• "Israel Silvestre".Fabien de Silvestre.
• "List of engravings by Israel Silvestre".Fabien de Silvestre.
• "Israel Silvestre".Université de Liège (Belgique).