Jacques Chereau

Jacques Chéreau (29 October 1688 in Blois, France – 1 December 1776 in Paris) was a portrait engraver, printmaker and publisher of optical prints in a neighborhood of printmakers at the Rue Saint-Jacques variously given on prints as "au Grand St. Remy," "au Coq," or "au dessus de la Fontaine St. Severin", in Paris, France.

Early history Jacques Chéreau was born the son of a carpenter Simon Chéreau & his wife Anne Hardouin, in Blois. Jacques ("le jeune Chéreau") worked for one year in England where vue optique prints were made, who had studied with Pierre Drevet and Gérard Audran. Huquier collaborated with Chéreau for three years, later printing and selling wallpapers and prints. In 1772, Huquier abandoned his family, moved permanently to England, leaving his three daughters in the care of the Chéreau family. Jacques' son Jacques-Simon married Louise-Pierrette Charpentier to about 1820 optical prints, also called "vue optique" or "vue d'optique" prints were made to be viewed through a Zograscope, or other devices of convex lens and mirror, all of which produced optical illusion of depth. Intaglio optical prints have exaggerated converging lines and bright hand colors which contribute to the illusion of depth. Typically the legends of optical prints have reversed words along the top edge as those would be seen though the scope, but words on the bottom of the prints are normal. the following are his best works:

Portraits Marie Leszczynska, Queen of France; after Van Loo. Madame de Sabran; after the same. Madame de Prie; after the same. Henri, Duke of Harcourt, marshal of France; after Madame de Sévigné. George I, King of Great Britain; profile, after Kneller. Jeanne d'Aragon, Queen of Sicily; after Raphael.

Subjects after various masters The Holy Family; after Raphael; in the Crozat Collection. La Belle Jardinière; after the same; in the same Collection. The Transfiguration; after the same. David with the Head of Goliath; after Teti; very fine. David and Bathsheba; after Raoux. Christ washing the Feet of the Apostles; after N. Bertin. Vertumnus and Pomona; after F. Marot. The Descent from the Cross; after Charpentier.