plaque

Until very recently, not much was known about French glass engraving in the early 19th century. François-Joseph Dupuis (b. 1782) was granted the title of “graveur du roi sur cristaux” (royal crystal engraver) in 1816. This plaque demonstrates that he could compete with the best Bohemian glass engravers of his time. He succeeded in creating an illusion of plasticity within the relatively shallow depth of his engravings. Henry IV was the first king of the Bourbon dynasty, and he ruled from 1589 to 1610. Louis XVIII, enthroned in 1814, was the first king to regain power for the Bourbon dynasty after the French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte.