Capital Letters, from Encyclopédie
1760
Medium
Engraving on cream laid paper
Dimensions
40 × 26 cm (15 3/4 × 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148218
Art Historical Context
Step into the Enlightenment with *Capital Letters, from Encyclopédie*, an exquisite 1760 engraving by Aubin. Created as part of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's groundbreaking *Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers*—the era's most ambitious compendium of knowledge—this plate exemplifies the project's mission to democratize information. Published between 1751 and 1772, the *Encyclopédie* featured thousands of detailed illustrations, blending art and science to document trades, tools, and typography. Aubin's contribution captures capital letters ...