Artésien was built in 1765 as a part of a series of twelve ships of the line began by Choiseul to compensate for the losses endured by the French Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War.

Off Cape Verde, Artésien detected a British squadron, resulting in the Battle of Porto Praya.

[5] Her captain, Cardaillac, was killed by a bullet to the chest at the beginning of the action, and was replaced by First officer de la Boixière.

[6] [7] On 7 July 1782, following the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren replaced Maureville with Armand de Saint-Félix.

A finely-crafted 1/28th scale model was used to instruct Louis XVI in naval studies.