[1] He was the fourth son of draughtsman and engraver Israel Silvestre and Henriette Sélincart [fr], the daughter of a Parisian merchant.

His father was a prolific sketch artist, becoming Graveur Ordinaire du Roi (King's Engraver) as well drawing-master to Louis, Grand Dauphin, before Silvestre's birth.

Both Augustus II and his son were great admirers of Silvestre's work, and bestowed upon him, in the space of thirty years, every honour imaginable: he was appointed first court painter, then, in 1727, director of the Royal Academy of Arts; he was ennobled in 1741, as was his brother Charles-François.

He was responsible for the most important works in the Palace of Dresden, notably, subjects drawn from Ovid's Metamorphoses for several ceremonial bedrooms and several ceilings.

The great number of works that came from his brush and the generosity of his patrons allowed him to amass a considerable fortune, and, having achieved financial security, he retired and returned to France.