Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Liart, Matthew
LIART, MATTHEW (1736–1782?), engraver, born in 1736 in Compton Street, Soho, was son of a sausage-maker, and grandson of a barber, belonging to a family of French Huguenot refugees settled in Soho. Showing a taste for engraving, Liart was apprenticed by his father to S. F. Ravenet [q. v.] the engraver for seven years. He obtained a premium from the Society of Arts in 1764 and also studied at the Royal Academy, where he gained a silver medal for a drawing from the life. His performances as a draughtsman were commended by Benjamin West, P.R.A. Liart was employed by Boydell to engrave ‘Jacob and Laban’ after Pietro da Cortona, and ‘Noah's Sacrifice’ after A. Sacchi; he exhibited proofs of these engravings at the Society of Arts in 1766 and 1767. In 1771 Liart published himself two engravings after B. West, ‘Cephalus and Procris,’ and ‘Venus lamenting the Death of Adonis.’ He also engraved ‘The Joyous Peasant,’ after A. van Ostade, and some designs for furniture. He died about 1782 in Compton Street, and was buried at Paddington. Lawrenson drew his portrait.
[J. T. Smith's Nollekens and his Times, ii. 117; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon.]