Simon Ravenet

Simon Ravenet was a printmaker whose career is documented in the early eighteenth century, active between 1710 and 1721. His practice centered on creating engravings and etchings, often working as a reproductive printmaker interpreting the designs of other artists.

Ravenet is primarily known for his work on the series Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet (Collection of Various Foreign Figures, Devised by F. Boucher, Painter of the King and Engraved [etched] by F. Ravenet). This collaborative series, featuring designs by François Boucher, focused on the popular genre of regional and exotic costume studies.

Examples of Simon Ravenet prints held in major institutional collections include the plates Femme de Boulogne, Femme de Macédoine, and Fille de Cio isle de l'Archipel. These works demonstrate Ravenet's skill in translating detailed costume studies into print format. Fifteen of his prints are preserved in museum collections, including important holdings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The existence of these documented works means that many of Ravenet's plates, such as those documenting costume, are today available in the public domain for scholarly research. Serious collectors often seek museum-quality prints of his eighteenth-century output.