Antoine de Parcieux - Augustin de Saint-Aubin

A refined 1771 portrait engraving of the mathematician Antoine de Parcieux by the French artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin.

This portrait of the French mathematician Antoine de Parcieux is an etching and engraving produced by Augustin de Saint-Aubin in 1771. The composition is based on a drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin, a frequent collaborator of Saint-Aubin. The print depicts the subject in profile, facing right, captured within a circular frame that is topped with a decorative bow. The background of the medallion features a fine cross-hatched texture, which provides a neutral field for the subject's features.

Saint-Aubin employs precise, controlled lines to render the subject's wig, facial contours, and period clothing. The technique reflects the high standards of French printmaking during the eighteenth century, where clarity and technical accuracy were prioritised. Below the medallion, the text identifies the sitter as a member of the Académie des Sciences, noting his death in 1769 at the age of sixty-six. This work functions as a commemorative portrait, typical of the era's interest in documenting figures of intellectual and scientific merit.

The print demonstrates the technical skill of Saint-Aubin, who was a member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. His ability to translate the nuances of a drawing into the medium of engraving is evident in the subtle shading of the face and the texture of the hair. The work remains a clear example of the portrait engraving tradition in France, where the collaboration between a draughtsman and an engraver was a standard practice for producing high-quality prints for collectors and scholars. The balanced composition and the restrained use of decorative elements ensure that the focus remains on the likeness of the mathematician.