Argenville, Antoine-Joseph Dezalier d' [Dezalier d'Argenville]

1. Dates

Born: Paris, 1 July 1680

Died: Paris, 29 Nov. 1765

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 85

2. Father

Occupation: Pub

His father, Antoine Dezalier, was a parisian librarian-- i.e, the owner of a book store. The father owned the d'Argenville estate near Versailles. d'Argenville's grandfather was a merchant of lyonese linen.

Nothing is said explicitly, but in view of that estate and the life d'Argenville led they can scarcely have been less than affluent, which I will put down although I am convinced they were wealthy.

3. Nationality

Birth: French

Career: French

Death: French

4. Education

Schooling: No University

After studying at College du Plessis, he continued his studies under the engraver Bernard Picart, the painter Roger de Piles, and the architect Alexandre Le Blond.

Studied in Italy, 1713-16.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Natural History

In 1709 he published Traité sur la théorie et la pratique du jardinage. He republished this work in 1747 with an added section on hydraulics suitable for gardens.

After his return from Italy, he settled in Paris where he acquired a reputation as an expert collector of objects of art and curiosities of nature. His travels to Germany, Holland, and England widened his circle of acquaintance and enlarged his collection of objects.

In 1742 he published a work of natural history, L'Histoire naturelle, 2 vols., which contained information on minerology, fossils, and shells. The work was republished in 1755 and 1757.

D'Argenville is most well-known for his work on the life of artists, Abregé de la vie des plus fameux peintres (1745-52, 1762).

7. Means of Support

Primary: Personal Means, Government

After two years of travel in Italy, he purchased the post of secretary to the king in 1716, and became maitre des comptes in 1733 and counsellor to the king in 1748. The chancellor, d'Aguesseau, favored d'Argenville with an office of natural history. He was able to form one of the outstanding private collections of art and natural history in France.

8. Patronage

Types: Court Official, Government Official

He was consulted on the selection of objects and their arrangement for a royal collection. After some hesitation, because it must have been objets d'art in question here, I am leaving this in.

He was favored by the chancellor of France who formed an office of natural history for him.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Hydraulics, Agriculture

That hydraulic system for gardens.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: Royal Society, 1750-1765

He became member of the Société Royale des Sciences de Montpellier in 1740, of the RS of London in 1750, and of the Académie de La Rochelle in 1758.

He entered into correspondence with a great number of savants of Europe primarily concerning objects for his natural history collection.

Sources

1. Hoefer, Nouvelle biographie générale, (Paris, 1857-66), 14, 10-11 Michaud, Biographie générale, 11, 598-9.
2. Dictionnaire de biographie francaise, 3, (Paris, 1939) cols., pp.581-583

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. de Ratte, "Eloge de M.Desallier d'Argenville" in d'Agenville's La conchyliologie, 3rd ed., (Paris, 1780) 1, ix-xxiv.
2. Pierre Remy, Catalogue d'une collection de dessins . . . de feu M. d'Argenville, (Paris, 1778).

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University