RADIG Christopher Antoine (Anton Yakovlevich) (Radigues, Radiguez, Radigue) Antoine Christophor)

1719 or 1721 (Reims) - about 20 July 1809 (St. Petersburg)

Engraver

born in the family of the engraver Jacques Vivensena Radiga. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Paris. In 1750 he traveled to London and Amsterdam. Served as copies of paintings by European masters, landscapes. Among other French engravers participated in the publication illustrating Fables, choisies mise en vers J. de La Fontaine (1755-1759, Paris).

In 1764 he was invited for a contract in engraving house in St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences to place GF Schmidt as a master of historical engravings. He participated in many collective works of the House, in particular, direct the engravings for the funeral album Empress Elizabeth (1761-1767, not published).

From 1765 both worked at the Academy of Sciences and the IAH, which caused dissatisfaction with the leadership as the Academy of Sciences and the IAH, in 1769 the engraver was fired. Remained in St. Petersburg, he worked for private orders. In 1789 the newly adopted IAH; until 1795 he taught at the Academy Engraving class. In 1794 a portrait II Betsky was awarded the title of academician. On separation from service (1795) received a pension from IAH.

Radig - one of the largest engravers in Russia, the Classical period. In his works he cultivated classical incisal reproducing an engraving. He worked primarily as a portraitist. During the period of stay in St. Petersburg completed about 20 works, in particular, created a series of portraits of princely families Golitsyn and Kurakins. Among other significant works by the master - the portraits of Catherine II on the original B. Ericksen (1768, 1771, 1775), Grand Duke Paul Petrovich of the originals NB Delapera and J.-L. Voila ( 1769, 1773), E. Sievers in the original S. Torelli (1776), AV Olsuf'ev original by J. De Wely (1777), NI Panina original by Alexander Roslin (1792).

For most prints Radiga characteristic masterly possession cutter: a free bar, well conceived the smallest detail, the ability to reliably convey the nature of fabrics and different materials are characterized by the desire for a miniature delicacy, elegance, ornamental. Found out later reprints from the boards engraver, made in the XIX century.

Creativity Radiga represented in many museum collections, including the State Russian Museum, State Hermitage, the Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin State Museum of History and others.