Étienne Fessard

He was a pupil of Edme Jeaurat, and proved an artist of sufficient merit to be accepted for candidacy (agréé) at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (1753). A protegé of le comte de Caylus, whom he may have assisted in the development of skill in etching, Fessard received the appointment Engraver of the King's Library (graveur de la Bibliothèque du Roi) in 1756, with responsibility for the engravings of the royal collection of paintings and drawings, as a result of Caylus' influence. On his death in 1777, the position was given to his student Augustin de Saint-Aubin.

Training under Edme Jeaurat is recorded. Jean-Baptiste Tilliard is recorded as having studied under Étienne Fessard. The recorded working language is French. Places of work recorded in the authority are Paris. Work by Étienne Fessard is recorded in the collections of Nationalmuseum, Städel Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Finnish National Gallery and Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK).

• Illustration — Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre • Hortensia Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin; after Ferdinand. • Marie Madeleine de Lavergne, Countess de La Fayette; after the same. • J. P. de Bougainville, of the French Academy; after C. N. Cochin. • The Marquis de Mirabeau; after Van Loo. • The Duke de Choiseul; after the same.

• Illustration — The Virgin enthroned, with SS. Francis, John, and Catharine; after Correggio, ca. 1750 • Diana and Actaeon; after Giacomo Bassano; for the Crozat Collection. • The Virgin enthroned, with SS. Francis, John, and Catharine; after Correggio. • The Holy Family, with St. Charles Borromeo; after Scarsellino. • The Four Liberal Arts, personified by Children; four plates; after C. van Loo. • Jupiter and Antiope; after the same. 1758. • Herminia armed as Clorinda; after J. B. Pierre. • The Birth of Venus; after F. de Troy. • Jupiter and Leda; after the same. • The Triumph of Galatea; after Bouchardon; etched by Count de Caylus, and finished by Fessard. • The Triumph of Bacchus; after the same; etched by Count de Caylus, and finished by Fessard. • The Nativity; after Boucher. • A Flemish Festival; after Rubens. 1762. • Psyche abandoned by Cupid; after Le Moine.