Pierre-François Laurent

Laurent’s ambition to publish engravings of the collection of paintings and drawings of the King evidently dates from this experience, for it was a specific charge of Fessard’s appointment.

[5] His early career was known to Pierre Jean Mariette, who expressed "great hope" in his future ("des grandes espérances"), while noting that he had been active in print commerce in Marseille.

[7] His commercial activity as an art dealer is evident from his filing with the city of Paris for relief from debt in 1783 -- among his losses was 6000 livres of framed prints which he had shipped to Philadelphia.

In disposition, Pierre Laurent was said to be perfectly suited to this task: affable, very supportive of the artists in his employment, persevering, knowledgeable and an enthusiast of the practice of his art.

[15]  Laurent is also said to have been related through the Barras family of Marseille to the wife of his eventual collaborator and financier Robillard de Peronville,[16] a connection which is corroborated by the dedication of an engraving in 1773 to “Monsieur de Barras la Villette ... par son serviteur et cousin P. Laurent.”[17] His son, Henri Laurent, (1779-1844), also an engraver, contributed to the execution of the Le Musée français and, after his father’s death, directed its completion under the title Le Musée royal in 1824.