Melchior Tavernier

Melchior Tavernier (1594–1665) was a French engraver, printmaker and print publisher.[1]

Plan of Paris published by Melchior Tavernier in 1630

Early life and training

He was the son of Gabriel II Tavernier,[2][3] an engraver who moved from Antwerp to Paris in 1573.[4] He had four siblings: Jean-Baptiste (who became a well-known writer and traveller), Gabriel III, Daniel, and Marie. He described his uncle, the elder Melchior Tavernier (1544–1641), who is otherwise obscure, as having introduced the art of engraving to Paris.[1][5] He apprenticed with Thomas de Leu on 30 June 1609.[2][6]

Career

In 1618 Tavernier became an intaglio engraver and printer to the king (graveur et imprimeur en taille-douce du Roi) with an emphasis on maps. Abraham Bosse became his apprentice in 1621.[7] Between 1623 and 1629 Ludolph Büsinck made woodcuts for Tavernier after drawings by Georges Lallemand.[8]

Tavernier operated his shop in Paris at many locations but finally settled on the Isle du Palais, first on the rue de Harlay and later on the quai facing the quai de la Mégisserie, where it was known as 'L'Espic d'Or' (1627–1635), then 'La Sphère Royalle' (1635 and later).[1] In 1644 he sold his shop to Pierre Mariette (1596–1657), the grandfather of Jean Mariette.[7]

Works

Works that he published include:

• Plan de la ville de Paris (1630).
• Plan de la ville de Toulouse (1631).
• Alessandro Francini, Livre d’architecture contenant plusieurs portiques de differentes inventions, sur les cinq ordres de colomnes (1631). Copy at INHA. Info at Architectura.
• Pierre Le Muet, Règles des cinq ordres d'architecture de Vignolle (1632). Info at Architectura.
• Carte géographique des postes qui traversent la France (1632).
• Le vray et primitif heritage de la couronne de France (1642).
• Jean Du Breuil, Perspective pratique (1642). Info at Architectura.

Gallery

• 
  World map (1642)
• 
  Map of Europe (1642)
• 
  Map of England (1642)
• 
  Isle de France (1643)

Notes

1. British Museum 2012.
2. Préaud et al. 1987, pp. 289–290.
3. Grivel 1996.
4. Benezit 2006a.
5. Benezit 2006b says Melchior Tavernier was "born in 1564 (?) in Antwerp, died 1641, in Paris".
6. Grivel 1996.
7. Walsh 1996, p. 415.
8. Anonymous 1996.

Bibliography

• Anonymous (1996). "Büsinck. Ludolph", vol. 5, p. 294, in The Dictionary of Art, 34 volumes, edited by Jane Turner. New York: Grove. ISBN 9781884446009.
• Benezit (2006a). "Tavernier, Gabriel", vol. 13, p. 732, in Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Paris: Gründ. ISBN 9782700030709.
• Benezit (2006b). "Tavernier, Melchior", vol. 13, p. 733, in Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Paris: Gründ. ISBN 9782700030709.
• British Museum (c. 2012). "Melchior Tavernier (Biographical details)" (archive copy), Collection Database, The British Museum.
• Grivel, Marianne (1996b). "Leu, Thomas de", vol. 19, p. 257, in The Dictionary of Art, 34 volumes, edited by Jane Turner. New York: Grove. ISBN 9781884446009.
• Préaud, Maxime; Pierre Casselle; Marianne Grivel; Corinne Le Bitouze (1987). Dictionnaire des éditeurs d'estampes à Paris sous l'Ancien Régime. Promodis. ISBN 2903181608.
• Walsh, Amy L. (1996). "Mariette family", vol. 20, pp. 415–418, in The Dictionary of Art, 34 volumes, edited by Jane Turner. New York: Grove. ISBN 9781884446009.