François-Thomas Germain
François-Thomas Germain (1726–1791) was a French silversmith who was often commissioned by European royalty and inherited the title of royal silversmith and sculptor to the King of France. In 1765, Germain broke guild regulations by working with financiers to receive some debts owed to him, as he was only allowed to enter into partnerships with his fellow smiths. For this he was forced to resign his position and declare bankruptcy.
François-Thomas Germain | |
|---|---|
 Germain is thought to have introduced this popular model of candlestick in Paris in 1757-1758. | |
| Born | April 17, 1726 |
| Died | January 23, 1791 (aged 64) Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Known for | Silversmith |
| Parent(s) | Thomas Germain (father; 1673-1748) Anne-Denise Gauchelet (mother) |
Germain died out of the public eye in 1791, the last member of his distinguished family to serve as a royal smith. Many of his works are now held in museums and private collections.
Curiously enough, due to the French Revolution and other hazards of history, the biggest portion of his production now belongs to countries other than France—namely Portugal and Russia.
In popular culture
Germain is portrayed as a Templar Grand Master, and the main antagonist, in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed Unity. Instead of dying in 1791, he is killed off by Arno in 1794. Germain was chosen as a character because of his real-life talent and "unexplained demise."[1]
External links
- Some of the masterpieces in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon
- Some of the masterpieces in the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, Lisbon
- Museu Gulbenkian, Lisbon
- Hermitage Museum, Saint-Petersburg
- Getty Museum, Los Angeles
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New-York
- Musée du Louvre, Paris
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
- Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon
- One of the tureens in the Museu Gulbenkian, Lisbon
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland
- Walters Art Museum, Maryland
- nr.112, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to François-Thomas Germain. |
Authority control  |
|
|---|
- Bremer-David, Charissa (July 23, 2018). "Meet the Real François-Thomas Germain, Sculptor-Silversmith of the Enlightenment". The Getty Iris. J. Paul Getty Trust. Retrieved July 31, 2018.