French engraver J. A. Commarieux (c. 1757–1809) — “decorator Russian Empress”

The article first describes all currently known works of French engraver Jean Antoine Commarieux (c. 1757–1809), as well as collected and introduced into science previously unknown facts of his biography, identified in the French documents and publications. The author draws on the role of the artist in the education, training and the formation of interest in art from his stepson the famous architect Auguste Montferrand, who after many years in Russia will create outstanding buildings and monuments. Especially carefully the author analyzes mention that the artist worked for several years in Russian and that due to personal acquaintance with one of the richest members of the Russian nobility N. N. Demidov formed a positive attitude Montferrand opportunities to work in Russia. The study clarified ideas about the professional environment of the French engravers at the end of the XVIII century. The article substantiates the value of professional and family ties J. A. Commarieux engraver for the development of Russian-French artistic relations, reveals the direction of further archival research on this topic.