BEAUMONT, Jean François Albanis (de) (1755?-1812) — London
Engineer; etcher & engraver; print publisher; landscape painter. Published accounts of his travels as “Voyage pittoresque aux Alpes Pennines” Geneva 1787; “Voyage historique et pittoresque du comté de Nice” Geneva 1787, with a map — a translation with different plates was published in London in 1792, as “An historical and picturesque description of the county of Nice”; “Travels through the Rhætian Alps, in the year 1786” 1792, with a map; “Select views of the antiquities and harbours in the south of France” 1794, with two maps; “Travels through the maritime Alps, from Italy to Lyons” 1795, with four maps etched by himself, including Chart of places connected with the route from Coni in Piedmont to Lyons in France including likewise the principal peaks of that chain of the Alps; “Travels from France to Italy, through the Lepontine Alps” 1800, with a map; “Description des Alpes Grecques et Cottiennes … avec un atlas de planches” Paris 1802-1806, etc. A number of examples of his published views are in BM.
Born at Chambéry about 1755, and thought to be a son or other relative of the Piedmontese artist Claudio Francesco Beaumont (1694-1766). Studied engineering at Mezières and in 1775 joined the Sardinian army as an engineer. He also took up landscape painting. Travelled extensively and published several illustrated accounts (see above). Employed as a hydraulic engineer at Nice, where he met the Duke of Gloucester, who engaged him as tutor to his children. In 1787 he published in London two sets of views, The environs of Nice and Glacieres of Chaumont, drawn and engraved by himself, and dedicated to the Duke. Exhibited four views at the Royal Academy as an honorary exhibitor in 1788. Married (as Albanis Beaumont) Louisa Poignand of the parish of St. Margaret Westminster at St. George Hanover Square 10 Nov 1790. In London, he established a partnership with Thomas Gowland, publishing views, often engraved by Cornelius Apostool. A member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce from at least 1796. He retired to La Vernaz in the Haute Savoie in 1806, and was rewarded by the emperor for establishing black merino sheep in region. He died in 1812.
Parish of St. George Hanover Square — 1790
Kingston, Surrey — 1796-1799
Alexander. BBTI. BM. BNA. Bryan. Exeter. Graves (1901) (1905). LHD. Maxted (1977). ODNB.