Georges Duplessis

Georges Duplessis (1834–1899) was a distinguished French art historian and curator, primarily recognized for his profound expertise in prints and engraving. He dedicated his career to the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, ultimately serving as the keeper of the Cabinet des Estampes (Department of Prints) from 1885 to 1898. In this pivotal role, Duplessis significantly contributed to the cataloging and preservation of the institution’s extensive collection of graphic arts. His major publications include “The Wonders of Engraving,” translated into English in 1871, which helped popularize the subject internationally, and “Histoire de la gravure” (1880), a comprehensive work tracing the development of engraving across Europe. Duplessis’s meticulous scholarship and dedication left a lasting legacy in the study of French graphic arts and art history.