He was the son of Nicolas Tardieu, bourgeois de Paris, and Marie Aymiée [sic].

She was the widow of the pastry-maker Germain Le Coq, who had worked for King Louis XIV of France (1638–1715) and for the Duchess of Burgundy.

Her sister Louise-Magdeleine Horthemels was an active reproductive engraver who married Charles-Nicolas Cochin, graveur du roi.

[5] He was received as a member of the Royal Academy and graveur du roi (official engraver to King Louis XV of France) on 29 November 1720 for his "Engraved portrait of the Duke of Antin" (Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin), after a painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud.

[2] Tardieu died on 27 January 1749 at his house on the Rue Saint-Jacques in Paris and was buried the next day.

[4] He had taught his son Jacques-Nicolas Tardieu (1718-1759), also a designer and engraver, who was appointed graveur ordinaire du roi.

His version of Champs Elysées and Embarcation for Cythera are excellent interpretations of Watteau's work as etchings.

[19] Tardieu had an extraordinary ability to retain the "silvery" atmosphere of Watteau's paintings in his engravings.