What Did Etienne De Silhouette Do?

Etienne de Silhouette was a French political figure who is best known for his contributions to the visual art world. He was born in 1709 and died in 1767. He served in various high-level positions throughout his career, including Controller-General of Finances under King Louis XV of France.

Silhouette is most remembered for his influence on the art of Silhouette cutting. He was a staunch proponent of economy and austerity, so he encouraged people to produce portraits by cutting out the Silhouette from black paper instead of painting or drawing them. This style became popular among the upper classes and quickly spread throughout Europe and North America.

Silhouette was also an amateur artist and engraver himself. His works often depicted scenes from everyday French life, such as farmers working in their fields or people gathering at local markets.

He also created portraits of some famous figures such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Ben Franklin and Marie Antoinette. His works were known for their carefulness and attention to detail, which made them stand out among other artworks at the time.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Silhouette worked on a range of political projects during his lifetime. He held various government posts at the court of Louis XV, including Director General of Manufactures and Minister of Finance. He also made important contributions to taxation reform, economic development and public works projects throughout France.

Finally, Silhouette was also an accomplished author who wrote several books on finance and economics during his lifetime. His most famous work is The Art of Taxation (1759), which remains one of the most influential texts on taxation policy today.

In sum, Etienne de Silhouette was a multifaceted figure who made significant contributions to both politics and art during his lifetime. Through his work as an artist, author and public official, he helped shape France’s culture and economy during the 18th century and beyond.

Conclusion: Etienne de Silhouette was a prominent figure in 18th century France who is best known for introducing the art form of Silhouette cutting into popular culture as well as making important reforms to French taxation policy through his book “The Art Of Taxation” (1759). Additionally, he was an accomplished artist who often depicted scenes from everyday life in France through engravings as well as a politician who held various high-level positions at court under King Louis XV including Director General of Manufactures and Minister Of Finance.