Jean-Charles François
Jean-Charles François (4 May 1717 – 22 March 1769) was a French engraver. François was born in Nancy then in the Duchy of Lorraine. He was among the pioneers of the so-called "manière de crayon" ("crayon manner") of printmaking, which simulated the appearance of crayon and chalk drawings.
Also recorded as Jean Charles Francois · François
Jean-Charles François
![Jacques Coittier [Coytier]. Line engraving by J.C. François, 1755, after J. Robert., by Jean-Charles François](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0001183/full/1280,/0/default.jpg)
Jean-Charles François · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection · Public Domain Mark
- Name
- Jean-Charles Francois
- Born
- 4 May 1717
- Birthplace
- Nancy, Duchy of Lorraine
- Died
- 22 March 1769
- Place of death
- Paris, France
- Nationality
- France.
- Occupation
- artist, copper engraver, draftsperson and printmaker.
- Fields
- visual arts.
- Languages
- French.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Jean-Charles François (4 May 1717 – 22 March 1769) was a French engraver. François was born in Nancy then in the Duchy of Lorraine. He was among the pioneers of the so-called "manière de crayon" ("crayon manner") of printmaking, which simulated the appearance of crayon and chalk drawings.
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Note VALÉORINE
Jean-Charles François (1717–1769) was a French artist, copper engraver and draftsperson, among other activities. Born in Nancy, the artist died in Paris. Jean-Charles François was active in visual arts.
Languages used include French. Works by the artist are held at Finnish National Gallery, Musea Brugge and Musée Lorrain, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
gnd · 1055304304 · wikidata · Q330270 · wikipedia · Jean-Charles François
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was pensioned by King Louis XV, who employed him extensively. His most noted works represent Louis XV, Marie Leszczyńska, Pierre Bayle, Erasmus, John Locke, and Nicolas Malebranche. He died in 1769 in Paris, aged 51.
Louis-Marin Bonnet is recorded as having studied under Jean-Charles François. The recorded working language is French. The field of work recorded is visual arts. Work by Jean-Charles François is recorded in the collections of Finnish National Gallery, Musée Lorrain, Print Collection and Musea Brugge.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jean-Charles Francois • Born — 4 May 1717 • Birthplace — Nancy, Duchy of Lorraine • Died — 22 March 1769 • Place of death — Paris, France • Illustration — The personification of self-discovery by Jean-Charles François, 1760
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1717–1790
The full dated record · 6 entries
1717
Jean-Charles François born at Nancy.
1767
François Quesnay. Heliogravure after J.C. François, 1767, after J. M. Frédou., dated 1767, held by Wellcome Collection.
1769
Jean-Charles François died at Paris.
1769
A kneeling woman holding out her hands in different directions. Crayon-manner print by J.C. François after Daniele da Volterra. is dated [not after 1769] and held by Wellcome Collection.
1789
Second mémoire sur la nutrition: supplément au Mémoire françois sur la nutrition... / [Jean Charles Marguerite Guillaume de Grimaud]. is dated 1789. Avec approbation and held by Wellcome Collection.
1790
Projet sur l'usage que l'ou peut faire des livres nationaux / [Jean Charles François Tuet]., dated 1790, held by Wellcome Collection.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Nancy.
Birth place
Paris.
Death place
Catalogued output
Works and catalogued output
Portrait of Mademoiselle Marie-Anne Adelaide Le Normand is dated c. The Shower is dated c.
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Jean-Charles François stands. A woman plays guitar at a table surrounded by men; representing the five senses. A kneeling woman holding out her hands in different directions. Crayon-manner print by J.C. Vie et anecdotes du G�en�eral Pichegru, G�en�eral en chef de l'arm�ee fran�coise. Publi�ees par M. de V. Jacques Coittier [Coytier]. Geese in a Farmyard is dated c.
Holdings and surviving copies
Where the work is held
Holdings and surviving copies
Where material relating to Jean-Charles François is held.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Hérold, Jacques. Gravure en manière de crayon, /Jean-Charles Francois (1717-1769): catalogue de l'œuvre gravé. M. Rousseau. 1931.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q330270: Jean-Charles FrançoisWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Formation and teaching. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style. Recorded as artist, copper engraver, draftsperson and printmaker. Naming and authority record. Those registers additionally record the forms Jean, Charles-François, Jean, Charles-F. and Jean, François Charles.
Recognition and collections
Work by Jean-Charles François is
Finnish National Gallery, Musée Lorrain, Print Collection and Musea Brugge
François, Jean-Charles, Oxford Art Online, 2003
François, Jean Charles, Benezit Dictionary of Artists, 2011
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Prints
4,138 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Jean-Baptiste MasséEngraver
- Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Le BrunEngraver
- Jean-Bernard DuvivierEngraver
- Jean-Bernard RestoutEngraver
- Jean-Charles Le VasseurEngraver
- Jean-Claude Richard de Saint-NonEngraver
- Jean-Damascène SallustiEngraver
- Jean-Étienne LiotardEngraver
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