Nicolas Huet Biography

Nicolas Huet Bird Illustrations Composite

Nicolas Huet Bird Illustrations Composite

BORN: 1770 in Louvre
DIED: December 26, 1830

Father Jean Baptiste Marie Hüet b. 1745 d. 1811
Mother Marie Geneviève Chevalier
Stepmother Marie-Madeleine Vacavant d. 1811
Brother François (Villiers) b. 1772 d. 1813
Brother Jean Baptiste Jr. b. 1772 d. 1852

His father taught him to draw and paint. In 1792, he and his two brothers, Jean Baptiste Jr. and Villiers, enlisted in the 1st battalion of volunteers of Seine-et-Oise. He was named Lieutenant and fought in the battle of Jemappes.

After his service, he returned to Paris. In October 1804, after the death of Oudinot, Nicolas was named as illustrator for the Museum of Natural History. He created over 200 watercolors on vellum for the museum. He also provided illustrations for Geoffroy and Cuvier.

Nicolas sent illustrations and watercolors to several of the Salons in 1802, 1806, 1808, 1817 and 1819. Lambert frères published a series of his drawings, engraved by Jean Baptiste Jr. His brother also engraved Nicolas’ collection of mammals. Nicolas provided illustrations for l’Histoire naturelle des mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles, the Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d’oiseaux, the government’s publication about Egypt and created paintings on vellum for the Prince of Essling (André Masséna).

In 1822, after the death of Van Spaendonck, Nicolas and Redouté were put in charge of the iconography course at the Museum of Natural History. Nicolas died on December 26, 1830. He had no children.

FRANÇOIS (VILLIERS) HÜET, the middle son, was born in Louvre on January 12, 1772 and took the name Villiers from the town where he spent his childhood. His father taught him art and, like his brothers, enlisted in the battalion of volunteers of Seine-et-Oise. Upon his return to Paris, he became a painter of miniature portraits. He exhibited his paintings at the Salon of 1799, 1800, 1801 and 1812. One of his rivals, Isabey, gained the favor of the French royal court and so he departed for England and became a painter for the Duke of York and Louis XVIII. In England, he also published works of animals and landscapes. He died in London, without children, on July 28, 1813. He was buried in Westminster.

JEAN BAPTISTE HÜET (JR.), the youngest brother, was born in Louvre on the 29th of December 1772. This brother also enlisted in the battalion of volunteers of Seine-et-Oise. He was injured during the siege of Maubeuge which resulted in the amputation of his right arm. He managed to engrave works for his father and Nicolas by using his left arm. He lived on Rue Monsieur-le-Prince (then known as rue de la Liberté) and then moved to Villiers-sur-Orge. He died in 1852 and left one son, Constant. Constant also had a son, Joseph Hüet. Joseph helped Gabillot with his book Les Hüet: Jean Baptiste et ses trois fils that was published in 1892.

Biographical Source: Les Hüet: Jean Baptiste et ses trois fils (1892).