Gérard Audran (or Girard Audran) (2 August 164026 July 1703), was a French engraver of the Audran family, the third son of Claude Audran. Life He was born in Lyon and was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father. Following the example of his brother, he went to Paris to perfect himself in his art. In 1666, he engraved for Le Brun Constantines Battle with Laxentius, his Triumph, and the Stoning of Stephen, which gave great satisfaction to the painter, and placed Audran in the very first rank of engravers at Paris. The next year he set out for Rome, where he resided three years, and engraved several fine plates. He is reputed to have worked for or trained with Carlo Maratta. That great patron of the arts, J. B. Colbert, was so struck with Audran's works that he persuaded Louis XIV to recall him to Paris. On his return, Audran applied himself assiduously to engraving, and was appointed engraver to the king, from whom he received great encouragement. In the year 1681 he was admitted to the council of the Royal Academy. He died in Paris. His engravings of Le Bruns Battles of Alexander are regarded as the best of his numerous works. Gerard published in 1683 a work entitled Les Proportions du corps humain mesurés sur les plus belles figures de l'antiquité. References Attribution: Further reading Gérard Audran, Les proportions du corps humain : mesurées sur les plus belles figures de l'Antiquité, 1683 "Audran (Gérard ou Girard)", In: Bénézit, t. ABF. - DBF., 1976 and 1999 Roger-Armand Weigert, Estampes, Inventaire du fonds français, graveurs du XVIIe siècle, 1939, t. I (Alix - Boudeau), pp 124–149 External links 1640 births 1703 deaths 16th-century French engravers 17th-century French engravers Engravers from Lyon Baroque engravers Pupils of Carlo Maratta