François Bonneville (act.c.1793-1802) 

individual; printmaker; publisher/printer; French; 

Activity: 1787-1810 (fl.)
Biography
Engraver, draughtsman and publisher of semi-popular prints in Paris. Related to Nicolas Bonneville, founder of Le Cercle Social (q.v.)

Artwork details: Print of Christopher Colombus after Sebastiano del Piombo's engraving. The engraving entails a Bust portrait of Christopher Columbus,  within a roundel; and an inscription in French translating to: 

CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS.

Famous Navigator born 1440. made the discovery of the Indies in 1490, Died in Valladolid 8 May 1506.

Dimensions: 10 x 12 cm

Bonneville was born in Paris in 1760 and began his career as a printer and engraver in the late 18th century. He was known for his attention to detail and his ability to produce prints that were faithful reproductions of the original works of art.

Bonneville was also an innovator in the field of book printing and illustration. He was one of the first printers to use lithography, a new printing technique that allowed for the creation of high-quality illustrations that could be produced more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional engravings.

Bonneville's prints and illustrations were highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts, and his work was widely admired for its technical skill and artistic merit. He produced a wide variety of prints, including portraits, landscapes, and genre scenes, as well as illustrations for books and other publications.

Today, Bonneville's prints and illustrations can be found in the collections of museums and galleries around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London. Bonneville was particularly known for his illustrations of literary works, such as Voltaire's "Candide" and Moliere's "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme." He was also commissioned to create illustrations for historical works, such as the memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte.

In addition to his work as a printer and engraver, Bonneville was also an art dealer and publisher. He owned a print shop and publishing house in Paris, where he produced and sold prints, books, and other works of art. He was a prominent figure in the Parisian art world during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Bonneville's career was cut short by political upheaval in France. He was arrested during the Reign of Terror in 1794 and imprisoned for several months before being released. After his release, he continued to work as a printer and engraver, but his output declined significantly. He died in Paris in 1813.

Despite the brevity of his career, Francois Bonneville left a lasting impact on the fields of printing and illustration