Fig. 2: drawing of the bust of a young girl, from E.-L. Vigée Le Brun © Musée du Louvre



Fig. 3: medal struck in bronze, with hand, antique-gold toning, by A. Augis, and different stages of the engraving process.
Two copies of this medal were issued in bronze with a gold finish, and two in unrefined, untoned copper. 65 mm x 87 mm ép. 5,5 mm
Issued in 2000. Photos © Nicolas Salagnac

This subject, though difficult, was motivating because of its richness. I found the drawing by E.-L. Vigée Le Brun very attractive and it helped sustain my motivation right through the project. Translating this fine, subtle, graceful drawing into a modelled engraving and learning how to use "traditional" methods to really come to grips with the material were, in my eyes, sizeable but worthwhile challenges. This test piece was also a good opportunity to learn more about engravers in the past, who were more familiar with hand engraving than contemporary engravers, and bridge the gaps between the different generations of engravers. (2)

The free-choice subject was to design an original medal on the theme of "one of the twelve labours of Hercules".
This was an interesting, motivating subject that prompted me to delve into the world of new technologies as applied to engraving, and gave me a chance to test the advantages and drawbacks.
After looking into the latest methods and giving it a lot of thought, I decided to go back to the traditional methods, which might not be as fast but in which I was more proficient.
The first step was to create and hone the drawing. The next step was to produce a model on a 1:3 scale and reduce it on the steel using a pantograph. I finished by going over the whole engraving by hand.
This design work brought me into contact with craftspeople from a variety of backgrounds and the "inter-craft" contacts I forged were very enriching.


Fig. 4: medal of Hercules and the Nemean Lion, struck in bronze, hand toned, antique-gold finish, by A. Augis. Two copies of this medal were issued in bronze with a gold finish, and two in unrefined, untoned copper. Diamètre 84mm
Issued in 2000. Different stages of the engraving process. Photos © Nicolas Salagnac

The richness and complexity of these two subjects made them particularly fascinating, as each step revealed further subtleties.

* Meilleur Ouvrier de France: the title "Un des meilleurs ouvriers de France" (often abbreviated to M.O.F.) is awarded in France to the best craftsman in each category, in a competition run by industry professionals.
The title was first awarded in 1924 and recognises a wide variety of crafts, from pastry cooks to carpenters, and from engravers to electricians. Candidates are required to produce a master piece in their specific area of expertise, a task that can take months, if not years, of preparation. The technical work, innovation and respect for tradition are honed at length to achieve the degree of excellence, efficiency and speed required to meet the competition standard.

* Hand engraving is performed with burins and gravers tapped with hammers, directly into the steel, using the same techniques as for modelled engraving.