Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Du Bosc, Claude
DU BOSC, CLAUDE (1682–1745?), engraver, was born in France in 1682. In 1712 he came to England with Claude Dupuis to assist Nicholas Dorigny [q. v.] in engraving the cartoons of Raphael at Hampton Court, where he resided for some time, until the engravings were nearly completed. Dorigny having some disagreement with his assistants, they left him; Dupuis returned to Paris, and Du Bosc set up as an engraver on his own account. He prepared a set of engravings done by himself from the cartoons, but Dorigny's engravings, being superior, held the day. In February 1714 Du Bosc undertook with Louis Du Guernier [q. v.] to engrave a series of plates illustrative of the battles of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. He sent to Paris for two more engravers, Bernard Baron [q. v.] and Beauvais, to help him to complete this work, which was accomplished in 1717. Vertue states that towards the end of 1729 Baron and Du Bosc went over to Paris, Du Bosc wishing to arrange matters relating to the trade of print-selling, as he had now set up a shop, and that Vanloo then painted both their portraits, which they brought to England. In 1733 he published an English edition of Bernard Picart's ‘Religious Ceremonies of All Nations,’ some of the plates being engraved by himself. Among other prints engraved by him were ‘Apollo and Thetis’ and ‘The Vengeance of Latona,’ after Jouvenet; some of the ‘Labours of Hercules’ and ‘The Sacrifice of Iphigenia,’ after Louis Cheron; ‘The Head of Pompey brought to Cæsar,’ after B. Picart; ‘The Continence of Scipio,’ after N. Poussin; ‘The Temple of Solomon,’ after Parmentière; a portrait of Bonaventura Giffard, and numerous book-illustrations for the publishers, including numerous plates for Rapin's ‘History of England’ (folio, 1743). His drawing was often faulty, and his style devoid of interest.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Dussieux's Les Artistes Français à l'Etranger; Vertue's MSS. (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 23068–76) Le Blanc's Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes.]