Today, we travel to France home of engraver #ThomasGaugain (1756-1812).  Supposedly born in Abbeville, France, Gaugain would have moved to England as a child with his family.  But baptismal records show the baptism of a John Thomas Gaugain at St. Anne’s, Soho, London in April of 1756.  Gaugain died in London in 1812.

Country Girl of Tuscany – stipple engraving by Thomas Gaugain after James Northcote @ 1794

Gaugain studied engraving under Richard Houston but began his artistic career as a painter.  By 1780, Gaugain had dedicated himself to engraving employing the stipple method.  Gaugain was one of the best stipple engravers of his period and produced a large number of engravings.

The two stipple engravings in my collection are meant as a pair (have not found the reason for this assumption).  Both images are after #JamesNorthcote (1746-1831), who was a portrait painter.  Northcote studied portraiture under Joshua Reynolds.  Northcote was a prolific artist producing about 2,000 pieces. He was elected into the Royal Academy in 1787.

Blind Girl of the Environs of Rome – stipple engraving by Thomas Gaugain after James Northcote @ 1794

The colour stipple engravings are printed from a single plate with some additional hand colouring added.  A proof to the supreme artistry of Gaugain.