Attributed to Jean-Louis Prieur (French, active 1765 - 1785) - Drawing for a Wall Light - Google Art Project

Jean-Louis Prieur was a French painter who was born in 1759 in Metz, France. He studied under the painter Jean-Baptiste Regnault and became a member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1786. Prieur is best known for his work as an engraver, producing illustrations for books and prints. He worked on several important publications, including the Encyclopédie méthodique and the Description de l'Egypte. Prieur was also involved in the French Revolution and produced many political prints and caricatures. He was a member of the Society of the Friends of the Constitution, a political club that supported the Revolution. Unfortunately, Prieur's involvement in the Revolution ultimately led to his downfall. He was arrested in 1793 and imprisoned for two years before being released. He continued to produce political prints, but his health was severely weakened by his time in prison and he died in 1795 at the age of 36. Despite his short life, Jean-Louis Prieur's work had a significant impact on French art and politics in the late 18th century.