Johann Georg Wille (1715–1808)

• Was a German-born copper engraver.
• He was the eldest of seven children born to the miller, Johann Philipp Wille, and his wife, Anna Elisabeth née Zimmermann.
• In 1736, he travelled as a wandering journeyman through Frankfurt am Main, Worms and Straßburg, among many others, on his way to Paris.
• His talent was noticed by the publisher, Michel Odieuvre [fr], who hired him to create nineteen illustrations for his book, L'Europe illustre.
• From 1742, he worked for the engraver, Jean Daullé.
• In 1747, he married Marie Louise Deforges (d.1785).
• Their son, Pierre Alexandre, became a genre painter. 

• Many famous painters began to entrust him with creating engravings of their portraits.

• After acquiring French citizenship, he was designated as an "Engraver to the King".

• From 1753, he operated an engraving school, where he taught drawing from nature and employed nude models.

• In 1761, he became a member of the Académie.

• He also provided engravings for the courts of Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire.

• Through these clients, and his art dealing, he amassed a considerable fortune, which enabled him to turn his attention from portraits to whatever caught his fancy.

• He had an impressive art collection, he lost most of his belongings during the French Revolution.

• In 1793, a cannon was fired too close to his head and he lost his hearing.

• As a result, he was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor.

• He gradually became blind.

• He died, impoverished, at the age of ninety-three.

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