Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Audinet, Philip

693477Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 02 — Audinet, Philip1885Robert Edmund Graves

AUDINET, PHILIP (1766–1837), line-engraver, was descended from a French family which came over to England in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He was born in Soho, London, in 1766, and, after having served his apprenticeship to John Hall, was employed to engrave the portraits for Harrison's 'Biographical Magazine' and other works. He also engraved 'Lear with the dead body of Cordelia,' after Fuseli, for Bell's ' British Theatre,' and several portraits after pictures by Danloux, a French painter who resided in England during the time of the revolution in France. Among his later works are portraits of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, Bart., and Sir William Domville, Bart., lord mayor of London, after William Owen, and an excellent engraving of Barry's unfinished portrait of Dr. Johnson, as well as the illustrations designed by Samuel Wale for the edition of Walton's 'Angler' published in 1808. There is one plate in mezzotinto by him, a portrait of his brother, S. Audinet, a watchmaker. It is said to have been done for improvement when the artist was a boy, and to be the only impression that was taken off the plate. Audinet died in London 18 Dec. 1837, and was buried in the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.

[Ottley's Notices of Engravers, 1831; Redgrave's Dictionary of Artists of the English School, 1878; Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits, 1878, i. 4.]