Charles Germain de Saint Aubin

Illustration taken from L'Art du Brodeur showing a method of embroidering with paillettes.

Engraving by Charles Germain de Saint Aubin.

Charles Germain de Saint Aubin (January 17, 1721 – March 6, 1786) was a French draftsman and embroidery designer to King Louis XV. Published a classic reference on embroidery, L'Art du Brodeur ("Art of the Embroiderer") in 1770. In addition to his embroidery designs, he was also known for his drawings and engravings.

A caricature of Louis-Bertrand Castel's "ocular organ" by Charles Germain de Saint Aubin

His parents were Germain de Saint-Aubin and Anne Boissay, themselves both professional embroiderers. His younger brothers, Gabriel-Jacques de Saint-Aubin and Augustin de Saint-Aubin were also well-respected artists.

References

• E. et J. de Goncourt, L'Art du XVIIIe siècle, Les Saint-Aubin
• http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/psearch?Request=S&imageset=1&Person=231450 (National Gallery of Art)
• Men in the fiber arts.
• Textile Production in Europe: Embroidery, 1600–1800 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
• E. and J. de Goncourt, The Art of the eighteenth century, the Saint-Aubin
• Catalog of rare and valuable component library M. Hippolyte Destailleur; Paris books: D. Morgand, 1891. 8 °, 448 p.