OLIVIER, ALEXANDRE (French). Son of Aubin Olivier, born in 1527, died in Paris, 27. December 1607. He married the daughter of Claude de Héry, with whom he probably learned engraving. In 1568 he was appointed Die-cutter at the Monnaie des Etuves. On his father's resignation of office in 1581, he became " Maitre ouvrier, Garde et Conducteur des engins de la Monnaie du Moulin ". In 1882 he applied for the post of Engraver-general of the French coins. The lawsuit which Alexandre Olivier fought with Philippe I Danfrie in 1601 established the fact that the former was a talented Engraver, and we learn from it that since 1550 he and his father had produced most of the official medals commemorating the Coronations, Accessions to the crown, Royal marriages, Births, and other important events, for which they owned the exclusive privilege. Alexandre Olivier was aided at the Mint by other engravers, and one of his sons, and it is therefore impossible to know which of the coins and jetons, issued between 1568 and 1607, are really by him. Mazerolle describes the following medals and jetons by this artist : 1571. Charles IX.'s arrival in Paris; R. adventvs lvt (Armand,III, p. 286-287, L. ) ; — 1572. Marriage of Henri III. of Navarre, with Marguerite of Valois, a medalet (illustrated) ; — Another ; R. ?TERNA. QV?. MVNDA. Female figure holding serpent, a medalet; — Commemorative medal of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew (illustrated) ; — Another, with bust of Charles IX. on obv. ; — Another; obv. Bust of Charles IX. to r. ; R. NE. FERRVM. TEMNAT. SIMVL. IGNIB s. OBSTO. Herculer and the Lernaean Hydra ; — Another ; obv. similar ; R. MAIOR. ERIT. HERCVLE. Minerva. These medals were struck by order of Nicolas Favier, général des Monnaies, and they could be procured from Aubin Olivier's workshop ; — 1573. Charles IX. and Henry, King of Poland (illustrated); — 1601. Medal of the State Council; obv. NIL. NISI. CONSILIO. Arms; R. OPPORTVNIVS. Hercules and Centauress at his feet, JETONS. Conseil privé (1569, 1570 (2), 1571, 1572, 1573, 1574 (2), 1575 (2), 1576 (2); — Cour des Monnaies, 1576; — Conseil privé, 1577 (2); — Cour des Monnaies, 1577; — Conseil privé, 1578; — Cour des Monnaies, 1578; — Conseil privé, 1579; — Cour des Monnaies, 1579; — Ville de Paris, 1579; — Conseil privé, 1580, 1581, 1582; — Cour des Monnaies, 1580, 1581, 1583; — Ville de Rouen, 1581 ; — P. Brulon, second President of the Parliament of Brittany, 1583; — Cour des Monnaies, 1583, 1587; — Conseil privé, 1583, 1584 (2), 1585, 1586, 1587, 1588 (2); — Conseil d'Etat, 1589 (2), 1594, 1595, 1596, 1597 (2), 1598 (2), 1599, 1600, 1601 (3), 1603 (2), 1604, 1605, 1606, 1607 (2); — Jeton offered by the King to Sully, 1603 ; — Ville de Paris, 1603. Alexandre Olivier was also entrusted with the execution of official and other Seals for the city of Paris and private individuals. On 16. January 1588 the Cour des Monnaies forbade Olivier, as well as any other engraver, to cut dies for the Batz, Half Batz, Kreutzer, Half, Quarter, and Eight Kreutzer, which Marie de Bourbon, duchess of Longueville, countess of Neuchâtel, wished to have struck at the Paris Mill, with the arms of her son, Henry of Orleans-Longueville, for the county of Neuchâtel. During the Ligue, Alexandre Olivier embraced the party of the Guises, and issued a considerable quantity of Doubles and Deniers for Charles X. in 1590. On the return of Henry IV. to Paris he was confirmed in his office, in preference to Philippe I. Danfrie. "Alexandre Olivier ", says Mazerolle, "est un médailleur estimable, mais d'un talent ne sortant pas de l'ordinaire; il est surtout habile comme graveur de jetons ; on peut m?me dire que leur petit module lui a permis d'exceller". Bibliography. — N. Rondot and H. de La Tour, op. cit. — Mazerolle, op. cit. — A. Barre, Graveurs généraux, &c.
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
NICLAUSSE, PAUL FRANCOIS
NICLAUSSE, PAUL FRANCOIS (French). Contemporary Medallist and Sculptor, born at Metz (Lorraine) ; pupil of Thomas, Ponscarme, and others. He has exhibited at the Paris Salons since 1896 : Two Portraitmedallions; — 1897. Two bronze medals and Four Portraitmedallions in clay ; — 1898. Musique guerri?re, medal (illustrated); — Four Portrait-medallions in bronze: Mme Dupont; — M. Dupont; M. Walter Dailey ; — Dr Henri Bonnet; — 1900. Montyon Prize Medal (59 mill.) ; — 1901. Medal for the "Club d'Unio...
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NICLAUSSE, PAUL FRANCOIS (French). Contemporary Medallist and Sculptor, born at Metz (Lorraine) ; pupil of Thomas, Ponscarme, and others. He has exhibited at the Paris Salons since 1896 : Two Portraitmedallions; — 1897. Two bronze medals and Four Portraitmedallions in clay ; — 1898. Musique guerri?re, medal (illustrated); — Four Portrait-medallions in bronze: Mme Dupont; — M. Dupont; M. Walter Dailey ; — Dr Henri Bonnet; — 1900. Montyon Prize Medal (59 mill.) ; — 1901. Medal for the "Club d'Unio...
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NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS
NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS (French). Medallist ; son of a Mintofficial of Besancon, born in that city about 1700, but resided at Nancy from 1726, and died there in 1783. He filled the post of Mint-engraver at Nancy for several years, and engraved a number of medals, some of which are described by Lepage. The first in chronological order is dated 1734, and bears a portrait of Count Palatine, Christian III., duke of Zweibrücken. Saint-Urbain had originally been entrusted with the execution of this p...
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NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS (French). Medallist ; son of a Mintofficial of Besancon, born in that city about 1700, but resided at Nancy from 1726, and died there in 1783. He filled the post of Mint-engraver at Nancy for several years, and engraved a number of medals, some of which are described by Lepage. The first in chronological order is dated 1734, and bears a portrait of Count Palatine, Christian III., duke of Zweibrücken. Saint-Urbain had originally been entrusted with the execution of this p...
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NICOLO FIORENTINO
NICOLO FIORENTINO. Vol. II, p. 91. This artist, whose name occurs as Nicolas de Florence, de Fleurance, Florence, Florentin, or le Florentin was evidently a native of Florence. He was a Master-gilder at Lyons, from about 1493 till his death in 1499. There he married Guillermine Le P?re, daughter of Louis Le P?re, in collaboration with whom he executed in 1499 the dies of the medal with the portraits of Charles VIII. and Anne of Brittany, struck on their Visit to Lyons. Bibliography. — Armand, op...
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NICOLO FIORENTINO. Vol. II, p. 91. This artist, whose name occurs as Nicolas de Florence, de Fleurance, Florence, Florentin, or le Florentin was evidently a native of Florence. He was a Master-gilder at Lyons, from about 1493 till his death in 1499. There he married Guillermine Le P?re, daughter of Louis Le P?re, in collaboration with whom he executed in 1499 the dies of the medal with the portraits of Charles VIII. and Anne of Brittany, struck on their Visit to Lyons. Bibliography. — Armand, op...
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NIDERÖST, G.
NIDERÖST, G. (Germ.). Mint-engraver at Pisa, and Medallist, circ. 1825-1858. His signature : NIDERÖST or initials G. N. or N. occur on gold and silver currency of Leopold II., Grand Duke of Tuscany (1824-1858), struck at Pisa, as : Al. 80 Fiorini, 1827; Ruspone or 40 Lire, 1836 and other dates; Zecchino, var. dates; — AR. Francescone of 10 Paoli, 1836, 1858 and other dates ; Franceschino of 5 Paoli, var. dates; Fiorino of 2 1/2 Paoli, 1847, 1856, and other dates; Paolo, 1858 and other dates; M...
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NIDERÖST, G. (Germ.). Mint-engraver at Pisa, and Medallist, circ. 1825-1858. His signature : NIDERÖST or initials G. N. or N. occur on gold and silver currency of Leopold II., Grand Duke of Tuscany (1824-1858), struck at Pisa, as : Al. 80 Fiorini, 1827; Ruspone or 40 Lire, 1836 and other dates; Zecchino, var. dates; — AR. Francescone of 10 Paoli, 1836, 1858 and other dates ; Franceschino of 5 Paoli, var. dates; Fiorino of 2 1/2 Paoli, 1847, 1856, and other dates; Paolo, 1858 and other dates; M...
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