Audran, Gorard (or Girard)

Audran, Gorard (Or Girard), a celebrated French engraver, the son of Claude the elder and the nephew of Charles, was born at Lyons in 1640. He probably studied under. Carlo Maratti. He resided in Rome three years, and executed a portrait of Clement IX, which gained him so much reputation that the great Colbert, himself a liberal patron of the arts, invited Audran to return to Paris. After his return, he was: appointed engraver to the king. He may be said to have carried the art to its highest perfection, especially in his large historical plates. He died in 1703. The following are a few only of-his principal plates: Portraits and subjects from his own designs — Pope Clement -IX, of the family of Raspigliosi; Andrea Argolus, S. Marci Eques.; St. Paul Preaching at Athens; Wisdom and Abundance, above two genii with a banner inscribed "Louis le Grand." Subjects from different masters-Moses and the Burning Bush; St. Paul Beaten by, Daemons; The Temptation of St. Jerome; St. Peter Walking on the Sea; The Woman Taken in Adultery; The Descent of the Holy Ghost. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.