Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Boitard, Louis Peter
BOITARD, LOUIS PETER (fl. 1760), engraver and designer, was born in France, and was a pupil of La Farge. His father brought him to England. He made many engravings after Canaletto, Huet, Pannini, and others. One of his best known plates represents the Rotunda at Ranelagh, after Pannini. In 1747 he supplied forty-one large plates for Spence's 'Polymetis,' and he engraved the illustrations to Paltock's 'Peter Wilkins,' 1760, and the 'Scribleraid' of Richard Owen Cambridge, 1751. Besides these he executed many vignettes, minor designs, and portraits, among the last one of 'Elizabeth Canning;' and he is said to have been a humourist and a member of the Artists' Club. His wife was English; and he had a son of the same name and profession, who was perhaps the designer of the large satirical plate entitled 'The Present Age,' 1767, which is to be found in the British Museum print room. The date of his death is unknown, being stated by some authorities as 1758, by others as after 1700.
[Bryant's and Redgrave's Dicts.; Nagler; Stephens's Catalogue of Satirical Prints in the British Museum, iv. 412.]