The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Fannière, François Auguste

FANNIÈRE, François Auguste and François Joseph, French engravers and carvers, brothers, the former born at Longwy in 1818, and the latter in 1822. Adopting the profession of their father, they received with the assistance of their grandfather, M. Fauconnier, an excellent training, and reached by their joint labors a greater eminence in carving and embossing on metals than any artist since Benvenuto Cellini. They were rewarded with prizes at the exposition of 1849, and the elder brother, who produced large works in gold with bass reliefs at that of 1855, was made chevalier of the legion of honor. Their subsequent joint masterpieces are two shields representing incidents from Orlando furioso, executed for the duke de Luynes.