MASSON, Antony, an eminent French engraver, who flourished towards the conclusion of the last century, and resided chiefly at Paris. It appears that he sometimes amused himself with painting portraits from the life, some of which he also engraved. We have no account of the life of this extraordinary artist; nor are we even informed from what master he learned the principles of engraving. He worked entirely with the graver, and handled that instrument with astonishing facility. He seems to have had no kind of rule
Masson, Massuah, to direct him with respect to the turning of the strokes; but twisted and twirled them about, without the least regard to the different forms he intended to express, making them entirely subservient to his own caprice. Yet the effect he has produced in this singular manner (Mr Strutt observes), is not only far superior to what one could have supposed, but is often very picturesque and beautiful. It was not in historical engraving that his greatest strength consisted. He could not draw the naked parts of the human figure so correctly as was necessary; but where the subject required the figures to be clothed, he succeeded in a wonderful manner. Among the most esteemed works by this admirable artist, may be reckoned the following: The assumption of the Virgin, a large upright plate from Rubens; a holy family, a middling-sized plate, lengthwise, from N. Mignard; Christ with the pilgrims at Emmaus, a large plate, lengthwise, from Titian, the original picture of which is in the cabinet of the king of France. This admirable print is commonly known by the name of the table-cloth: for the cloth, with which the table is covered, is executed in a very singular style. Also the following portraits, among others: The Comte de Harcourt, a large upright plate, reckoned a masterpiece in this class of subjects; Guillaume de Brisacier, secretary to the queen of France; a middling-sized upright plate: usually known in England by the name of the Gray-headed Man, because the hair in this print is so finely executed.