Bilder Robert Benard (1734–1777) – Farrier and Operator: Forge Work and Tools – Engraving (c. 1770–1780)

Beskrivning

"Maréchal Ferrant et Opérant, Travail de la Forge et Outils". This large-format engraving documents the essential craft of the farrier and blacksmith. The upper register provides an interior view of a busy forge, showing the central hearth (feu de forge) and massive bellows hanging from the ceiling. Craftsmen are depicted at work, tending the fire and hammering iron. The lower register illustrates the specialized equipment used in the trade, including two distinct types of anvils (enclumes) mounted on wooden blocks, leather bags or aprons used by the farrier, and various metal rods and tools used for shoeing horses.
This plate belongs to the "Arts et Métiers" section of the Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, edited by Denis Diderot. This monumental Enlightenment work was the first of its kind to provide such detailed visual descriptions of manual labor and industrial processes, aiming to elevate the status of the mechanical arts. Robert Benard, as the director of the engraving department, ensured that the illustrations were technically accurate and clearly presented, making them invaluable historical records of pre-industrial technology.

Robert Benard was a French engraver who specialized in technical and scientific illustration during the eighteenth century. He served as the primary engraver for the Académie Royale des Sciences and the director of the engraving department for Diderot's Encyclopédie. His body of work is characterized by a precise and methodical linear style that was ideally suited for documenting complex mechanical trades and natural history specimens. Benard is credited with overseeing the production of over two thousand plates that contributed to the global dissemination of French Enlightenment knowledge.

Artist or Maker: Robert Benard.

Dimensions: Approximately 29 cm x 40 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: (Late 18th Century).

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.