b o u l l i a u

 medal by jean dassier  -  paris - 1723

 
In 1723 a special series of art medals honoring the illustrious of the age of Louis XIV was struck in Paris.  The artist was Jean Dassier (1676-1763), one of the most prominent and celebrated engravers of the eighteenth century.  Highly regarded for his artistic skills, Jean Dassier was but one member of a noted Swiss family of medallists.  He trained under his father, Domaine Dassier (1641-1719), chief engraver at the mint in Geneva.  Jean later studied in Paris under Jean Mauger and Joseph Roettier(s).  After serving his father as assistant engraver at Geneva, Jean assumed the position of chief engraver following his father's death, a position he held until his own death over forty years later.  Jean Dassier's three sons followed his footsteps in engraving, most notably Jacques-Antoine Dassier (1715-1759). The historian Forrer has claimed that Jean Dassier 'may be termed one of the greatest of eighteenth century Medallists' (Forrer, vol. 1: 339). There is no comprehensive study or catalogue of his work, though a small monograph focuses on the series of medals in which Boulliau was included.

The series in which Boulliau was included contains seventy four medals and conforms very closely with individuals included in the well-known edition of Charles Perrault's Les hommes illustres qui ont paru en France pendant ce siecle avec leurs portraits au naturel, 2 volumes, Paris 1697 & 1700.

For further details on the Dassier series of see Henri Fatio, Les jetons representant les hommes illustres du siecle de Louis XIV, graves en 1723 par Jean Dassier; Henri Jarrys (Geneva) 1913, and Hippolyte Kluyskens, Des hommes celebres dans les sciences et les arts, et de medailles qui consacrent leur souvenir, Gand 1859; and L. Forrer, Biographical Dictionary of Medallists {Volume One}, London, 1902..

   rah.iii.98 et seq

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