(b Valenciennes, 17 Aug 1720; d Brussels, 4 Jan 1778). Painter, draughtsman and illustrator, son of (1) François Eisen. He went to Paris c. 1740 to work in the studio of the engraver Jacques-Philippe Lebas. Eisen himself engraved little, and probably produced the drawings from which Lebas or studio assistants would engrave. In 1745 Eisen was asked to illustrate a volume celebrating the betrothal of the Dauphin Louis to Maria Theresa of Spain. This was his first significant commission and was probably passed to him by Lebas. Two years later he established his reputation and independence by providing 43 drawings for an edition of the works of Nicolas Boileau. In 1748, however, the Académie de St Luc seized Eisen’s studio effects because he was refusing to pay the joining fee, arguing that, as an artist of exceptional talent, he should be admitted for a lesser amount. Two years later he sued successfully and was admitted without fee; his morceau de réception was a painting of Daedalus and Icarus (untraced).

Part of the Eisen family

• Eisen, Charles(-Dominique-Joseph)
  • Eisen
  • collaboration
    • Marillier, Clément-Pierre
  • patrons and collectors
    • Erotic art, §I, 2(iii): Western world, c 1700–c 1900
  • reproductive prints by others
    • Duclos, Antoine-Jean
    • Ghendt, Emmanuel Jean de
    • Le Mire, Noël
    • Le Veau, Jean-Jacques
    • Mechel, Christian von
    • Vignette
    • Voyez
  • works
    • Basan, Pierre-François