Charles-Nicolas Cochin (1715–1790) was a prominent French engraver, designer, writer, and art critic known for his significant influence in 18th-century French art. Trained by his father, also an engraver, he gained early royal patronage under King Louis XV, producing engravings to commemorate court events. Cochin was attached to the Menus-Plaisirs du Roi and served as the King’s administrator of the arts, commissioning works and shaping artistic tastes in France. He was a vocal critic of the Rococo style and an advocate for Neoclassicism, emphasizing technical precision and natural elements. His works include over 200 book illustrations, portraits, historical prints, and designs for paintings and sculptures. Notable among his engravings are pieces like “The Death of Hippolytus” and the frontispiece to Diderot’s Encyclopédie. Cochin’s legacy lies in his artistic skill, administrative influence, and role as a key tastemaker of his time.
