AUDRAN, Girard, or Gérard, the most celebrated artist of the whole family, was the third son of the Claude Audran first mentioned, and was born at Lyons in 1640. He was taught the first principles of design and engraving by his father; and, following the example of his brother, went to Paris, and afterwards to Rome, to perfect himself in his art. At Rome, where he resided three years, he engraved several fine plates. That great patron of the arts, M. Colbert, was so struck with the beauty of Audran's works, that he persuaded Louis XIV. to recall him to Paris. On his return he applied himself assiduously to engraving, and was appointed engraver to the king, from whom he received great encouragement. In the year 1681 he was admitted to the council of the Royal Academy. He died at Paris in 1703. His greatest works are his engravings of Le Brun's Battles of Alexander.
"He was," says the Abbé Fontenai, "the most celebrated
engraver that ever existed in the historical line. We have several subjects which he engraved from his own designs, that manifested as much taste as character and facility. But in the Battles of Alexander he surpassed even the expectations of Le Brun himself."