The Swing Engraving By Sébastien Leclerc 1637-1714

"Swing Game", engraving by Sébastien Leclerc 1637-1714 by Sébastien Leclerc from 1673. The same is at the NGA in Washington. Engraving by Sébastien Le Clerc or Sébastien Leclerc, baptized on September 26, 1637 in Metz (Moselle) and died in Paris on October 25, 1714, is a draftsman, engraver and military engineer from Lorraine. Protected by such a high-ranking artist as Charles le Brun, Sébastien Le Clerc had no trouble obtaining commissions; booksellers rushed to have him engrave prints to decorate their books: he was known to be encouraged by Charles Lebrun, everyone wanted to have some of his plates. His reputation grew day by day: he considered it an honor to take care of him; soon Colbert himself wanted to attach Sébastien Leclerc to himself. He gave him accommodation at the Gobelins, probably around 1672, with a pension of 600 écus, but he made it expressly conditional that he would devote his talent exclusively to the service of the king. It is from 1691 that he appears in the Accounts of the king's buildings. This element testifies to his involvement in the high sphere of royal commissions since he is mentioned "for the care and conduct [...] of the Gobelins Academy". Then, in 1693 he obtained the position of ordinary engraver to the king following the death of Claude Mellan.