Louis Desplaces

Louis Desplaces was a graphic artist active across the late 17th and early 18th centuries, with documented works spanning the period 1682 to 1724. Although specific biographical details regarding his origin are limited, the significance of his output is confirmed by the fifteen prints currently represented in major museum collections.

Desplaces’s work encompasses a variety of subject matter including classical mythology, biblical narratives, and portraiture. His mythological and historical compositions include Diana at the Bath and Astyanax taken from Andromache. Religious themes are addressed in works such as The Sacrifice of Isaac. Desplaces also created detailed figural studies, notably the specific portrayal of a Man in officer's dress, with sword hanging at left hip. A distinct work within his catalog is the satirical or allegorical image Painting (La Peinture), which features a monkey seated at an easel, dressed in human academic attire.

The preservation of Louis Desplaces prints in prominent institutions establishes his historical standing. His output is held by both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Today, these historical, museum-quality works are often available as high-quality prints, confirming Desplaces’s role as a notable producer of graphic arts during his active period. Many of these works are now available in the public domain.