Pierre-François Godard

Biography

Pierre-François Godard was the son of the workman printer and bookbinder Jean Godard (1735-1802), itself self-educated engraver. He followed the example of his father and started to acquire only the rudiments of his art while learning how to draw. The first part of this artist whose work can rise with: 8000 parts was produced for a Mémoire for the mayors and aldermen of the town of Nickel silver whereas it was not fifteen years old. The first boards on wood which it engraved were those of the historical Mémoires on the town of Alençon of Odolant-Desnos of 1787.

After having resided some time at Nantes in the Mellinet house, it returns in Alençon where it forms an establishment of bookstore and binding. In the middle of its commercial occupations, it finds time to engrave an innumerable quantity of subjects of any kind, almost all compounds by him. It left several handwritten volumes of subjects of lessons of prospect with figures. Its principal works and engravings on wood are for: Fable S of Ésope (Year V), Fables of the Fountain (Year IX), selected Works of Buffon , Course of childbirth of Chaussier (Year IX), labels for the historical Card decks of Jouy, an edition of Télémaque the Fountain , a continuation of Passion and Sacred History, several geographical maps inserted in the Yearly of the Flowering ash , etc In all these compositions, the Burin of Godard is characterized by firmness and clearness.

Pierre-François Godard was the father of Pierre-François Godard, known as Godard II of Alençon.

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