MOUCHON, LOUIS EUGÉNE (French). Medallist, Gem-engraver, Metal-chaser, and Line-engraver, born at Paris, 30. August, 1843, now residing at Mentone. He was apprenticed to his father as a Die-sinker. "J'ai fait mon apprentissage chez mon p?re, " writes the artist, " graveur d'objets de ville, dans l'absolue ignorance de tout. Colliers de chien, plaques de portes, moules ? bouteilles et ? savon, marques ? moutons, haches de forestiers, chandeliers d'hôtels et numéros de clés, voil? ? la confection de quoi j'ai passé ma jeunesse. Plus tard, je fis des timbres secs et humides, des fers pour la reliure, des poincons de maîtres pour bijoutiers ; plus tard encore de la gravure sur bois, de la taille-douce, de la vignette en tous genres ; j'étudiai la galvanoplastie et la photographie ; j'inventai m?me ditférents procédés chimiques. J'ai fait quantité de sceaux, de cachets ? la cire et des blocs d'acier pour le timbrage en couleur. " Not satisfied with his attainments, Mouchon continued his studies, and first attempted medal work, when already forty-three years' old. His first productions in that branch of art were exhibited at the Salon of 1887. At the Universal Exhibition, Paris, 1900, he obtained the Grand Prix for Engraving in the section of Decorative Art. In the meantime he had been created a Knight of the Legion of Honour, 1895. Until recent years, Mouchon engraved in steel most of the types of the French State papers of value, and by him were the Postage stamps from 10 to 30 Centimes of the type of the seated Republic, which preceded that now in use with Roty's "Semeuse".The same artist engraved the French postage stamps for the colonies and protectorates, also postage stamps for Belgium (Brussels Exhibition), Holland, Persia, Luxemburg, Greece, Portugal, Monaco, Argentina, Abyssinia, Servia (of King Peter's coronation, with the supposed mask of Alexander I., recalled type), &c. ; further, coin-types and dies for paper money, comprizing a series of sixteen banknotes of different value and designs for Portugal. The artist's signature occurs on the current issue of French postage stamps (1907), with the altered type of Roty's " Semeuse ". Mouchon's most remarkable productions in line-engraving are his reproductions of the Livre. d'heures of Symon Vostre and a Choix de Pri?res after Hippolyte Flandrin. The artist obtained in 1888 a Medal of the third class ; in 1889, the Gold medal of the Universal Exhibition; 1894, a Medal of the second class and the Diplôme d'honneur at the Exposition internationale du livre. The following is as complete a list of Mouchon's medallic productions as I have been able to compile : Struck Medals & Plaquettes. 1887. Concours annuel des él?ves imprimeurs-typographes, with bust of Gutemberg; — Concours annuel des él?ves lithographes, with bust of A. Senefelder ; — Enseignement du dessin; — 1889. Orpheus; — Lazare Carnot; — 1891. Apollon berger; — 1894. Union du commerce; — 1895. Joan of Arc; — St. Anthony of Padua, after Murillo; — Souvenir of E. Mouchon to his friends; — 1896. Regina Virginum ; — Siren; — 1897, Pattern for a coin; — Souvenir Plaquette of the Paris Mint (illustrated) ; — The Archangel Michael slaying the Dragon. View of Mont St. Michel; — 1899. Joan of Arc; — Queen Wilhelmina of Holland; — 1899. The Pardon; — 1901. Roses et parsiflores; — View and Arms of Mentone; — 1902, Nicholas II., Czar of Russia ; — Alexandra, Czarina ; — Edward VII., Coronation medal; — 1903. Berlioz, and prince Albert of Monaco. Cast Medals & Plaquettes. 1886. Mme L. Mouchon (2 sizes); — Mlle Jeanne Mouchon ; — Georges Mouchon, youthful head ; — L. A. Mouchon; — Mme M. J. Simon; — Mme A. Hubert; — 1887. Fr. Filon, director of the Municipal Lavoisier school; — Mme Carlotta Overlino ; — Mlle Suzanne Terrier; — R. Terrier; — Faith, after P. Dubois ; — 1888. P. E. Gaumel ; — M. X*** ; — 1889. Orpheus; — 1890, Ch. Gerson ; — École municipale Estienne (2 varieties) ; — Christ ; — The Virgin ; — 1891. René ; — Apollon berger; — 1892. To the Memory of Philippe de Girard; — Dead Hope (illustrated) ; — 1893. Menelik II., Emperor of Ethiopia; — H. Berteaux; — P. E. Herbette; — Souvenir of the 21. April 1893; — Tourelle de Chenonceaux; — Mlle H. F. ; — Robert Estienne; — 1894. The French Republic; — P. Tranchau ; — Mllr X***; — 1895. Mlle Jeanne Mouchon (oval; illustrated); — M. G. Mouchon, in military uniform (oval; illustrated); — J. de Selves, French Postmaster-general ; — Mme M. F. Tranchau; — St. Anthony of Padua; — The Bridegroom; — The Bride; — Cupid; — Spring; — Autumn ; — Brittany shepherdess; — Yoke of oxen ploughing; — Fleur de Lys; — 1896. Inauguration of the new building of the Estienne Municipal school ; — Dr Théophile Roussel; — 1897. L. Bédorez, director of the Seine schoolboard; — Léon Bourgeois (Plaquette, and Medallion); — J. de Selves, prefect of the Seine; — The Archangel Michael; — 1898. Joan of Arc; — Christ and the Virgin ; — 1901. Roses et parsiflores; — View and Arms of Mentone; — Alfred de Musset. — 1902. Nicholas II. of Russia; — The Czarina Alexandra; — Edward VII. of Great Britain; — M. Glena, architect; — 1903. Berlioz and Prince Albert of Monaco ; — 1906. Amitié et Souvenir; — Agriculture ; — In memoriam amicorum ; — S. A. le Prince de Monaco; — Diane; — Alfred de Vigny; — La Source; — M. A. Mariani ; — 1907. Cadran d'horloge; — Gallia Mater, medallion ; — Orgueil; — Alfred de Vigny, plaquette ; — M. Mariani ; — Reliefs : Christ aux Oliviers; — P?lerins d'Emmaüs, etc. At the Exhibition of Modern Medals, which was held at Brussels in 1897, Mouchon was represented by the following works : Struck Medals. Lazare Carnot ; — Union du Commerce; — St. Anthony of Padua ; — Apollon berger ; — Orpheus; — Regina Virginum. Plaquettes. Art and Friendship. Cast Medals. M. Poirson ; — Mlle Mouchon (oval) ; — M. Mouchon fils (oval); — Mme Simon; — Menelik, Emperor of Ethiopia; — Mlle X***; — René Terrier; — Suzanne Terrier; — M. Gerson ; — Head of the Republic; — St. Anthony of Padua; — Apollon berger; — Orpheus; — Spring; — Autumn. Plaquettes. M. Herbette; — M. Tranchau; — Mme Tranchau ; — M. de Selves ; — M. Berteaux ; — Philippe de Girard ; — Christ; — The Virgin ; — Ecole Estienne; — Tourelle de Chenonceaux (illustrated); — Berg?re bretonne ; — Attelage de b?ufs bretons; — Espérance morte. At the Luxemburg Museum the following medallic productions by Mouchon are on exhibition : Commemorative medal of the Foundation of the École Estienne ; — Orpheus ; — Gloire posthume, commemorative medal of Philippe de Girard; — Espérance morte; — Apollon berger ; — Menelik (illustrated) ; — Léon Berteaux. painter ; — Emile Louvard ; — Jeanne Mouchon ; — Mme Simon ; — Mlle Carlotta Overlino ; — René Terrier; — Suzanne Terrier. " Ce qui fait l'originalité du talent de Mouchon, c'est que ce talent est pour ainsi dire universel. II est graveur en médailles et plaquettes, graveur en creux, graveur de poingons typographiques, en fers ? dorer, en ornements ciselés pour la reliure, en orfévrerie; il est également peintre, dessinateur, photographe, imprimeur, enfin tout ce qu'une main obéissant fid?lement ? un cerveau artiste puissamment organisé puisse exécuter (Archives de l'imprimerie, octobre 1900, p. 15). "Tardive a été la manifestation de sa puissance artistique, mais le succ?s immédiat et indiscuté : de l? se dégage la grande leçon : l'homme rencontrait la soudaine récompense d'une longue patience ; il se révélait maître de tous ses moyens ; du coup il s imposait. La joie de s'?tre enfin ouvert la voie souhaitée ne ralentit pas son effort. Le catalogue de l'?uvre gravée de Mouchon remplirait des pages ; que de plaquettes, que de médailles o? l'harmonie de la composition, l'ingéniosité de l'inspiration sont servies par une exécution parfaite ! Ce qui émerveille le profane, le voyant ? l'oeuvre, c'est que cette m?me main qui a besoin d'une vigueur extraordinaire pour entamer l'acier avec le burin, se conserve une telle lég?reté, une touche si délicate, une si suave finesse de trait. "Jusqu'en ces derni?res années, Mouchon a gravé sur acier tous les types de l'Etat pour les papiers de valeurs, soit directement, soit pour les artistes ? qui l'Etat les avait commandés. " Car, j'ai tristesse ? le constater, nous dit-il, je suis le dernier survivant des hommes qui savaient leur métier avant l'introduction des procédés mécaniques, chimiques et photographiques " (Moniteur universel, avril 1900). Bibliography. — Roger Marx, Médailleurs français. — Id., Médailleurs contemporains. — L. Bénédite, op. cit. — Gazette numismatique française, 1897-1900. — Gazette numismatique Dupriez, 1898. — Art et Decoration, 1899. — Dr J. H. de Dompierre de Chaufepié, op. cit. — Catalogues du Salon, 1887-1904. — Information kindly communicated by the artist.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
MOCCHI, LORENZO CIGLIA
MOCCHI, LORENZO CIGLIA (Ital.). Sculptor and Medallist, of the end of the fifteenth century, who, according to the noteworthy conjecture of G. Milanesi may be identified with the so-called MÉDAILLEUR A LA FORTUNE (q.v. Vol. II, 127). Hern von Fabriczy does not pronounce against this attribution, which appears quite reasonable, as the medal of Lorenzo Ciglia Mocchi (illustrated) is signed on R. L.C.M., which initials can only represent the name of Mocchi. All the eight medals bearing on R. a nude...
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MOCCHI, LORENZO CIGLIA (Ital.). Sculptor and Medallist, of the end of the fifteenth century, who, according to the noteworthy conjecture of G. Milanesi may be identified with the so-called MÉDAILLEUR A LA FORTUNE (q.v. Vol. II, 127). Hern von Fabriczy does not pronounce against this attribution, which appears quite reasonable, as the medal of Lorenzo Ciglia Mocchi (illustrated) is signed on R. L.C.M., which initials can only represent the name of Mocchi. All the eight medals bearing on R. a nude...
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MODERNO
MODERNO (ltal.). Sculptor and Medallist of the end of the fifteenth century and first half of the sixteenth. Eug. Müntz has suggested his identification with GIOVANNI GUERINO, Mint-engraver at Rome, 1548-1549 (Vide Vol. II, p. 336), but Molinier seems nearer the truth in naming CAMELIO (Vittore Gambello), a Venetian artist, 1460-1539, with whose works Moderno's productions bear great analogy. It is quite clear that MODERNO is only a cognomen, as L'ANTICO which designated the Medallist Pier Giaco...
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MODERNO (ltal.). Sculptor and Medallist of the end of the fifteenth century and first half of the sixteenth. Eug. Müntz has suggested his identification with GIOVANNI GUERINO, Mint-engraver at Rome, 1548-1549 (Vide Vol. II, p. 336), but Molinier seems nearer the truth in naming CAMELIO (Vittore Gambello), a Venetian artist, 1460-1539, with whose works Moderno's productions bear great analogy. It is quite clear that MODERNO is only a cognomen, as L'ANTICO which designated the Medallist Pier Giaco...
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MOELINGEN, GYSBERT VAN
MOELINGEN, GYSBERT VAN (Dutch). Medallist and Line-engraver of the second half of the eighteenth century. He filled the post of Mint-engraver for Guelders, at Utrecht, in which capacity he is mentioned in a document of 15. August 1760. By him are the following medals, which are all reproduced in Van Loon, Suppl., VI, VII : — Visit of Princess Anne with her children to Princess Maria Louisa at Oranjewoud in Friesland, 1754 ; — Jubilee of the Reformed Orphanage at Amsterdam, 1757; — Medal of the...
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MOELINGEN, GYSBERT VAN (Dutch). Medallist and Line-engraver of the second half of the eighteenth century. He filled the post of Mint-engraver for Guelders, at Utrecht, in which capacity he is mentioned in a document of 15. August 1760. By him are the following medals, which are all reproduced in Van Loon, Suppl., VI, VII : — Visit of Princess Anne with her children to Princess Maria Louisa at Oranjewoud in Friesland, 1754 ; — Jubilee of the Reformed Orphanage at Amsterdam, 1757; — Medal of the...
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MOERIKOFER, JOHANN KASPAR
MOERIKOFER, JOHANN KASPAR (Swiss). Medallist and Coinengraver, born at Frauenfeld, 7. November 1738, died at Berne, circa 1800. He was a nephew of Johann Melchior Mörikofer, with whom he was first apprenticed. Later he visited Paris and for some years practised gem-engraving and die-sinking there, until he was called back to Berne, on the death of his uncle, Easter 1761, to fill the vacant post of Engraver of the coins of the Republic (1761-1790). By this clever artist were probably cut the foll...
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MOERIKOFER, JOHANN KASPAR (Swiss). Medallist and Coinengraver, born at Frauenfeld, 7. November 1738, died at Berne, circa 1800. He was a nephew of Johann Melchior Mörikofer, with whom he was first apprenticed. Later he visited Paris and for some years practised gem-engraving and die-sinking there, until he was called back to Berne, on the death of his uncle, Easter 1761, to fill the vacant post of Engraver of the coins of the Republic (1761-1790). By this clever artist were probably cut the foll...
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