Paris School
Sebastien Renault
Paris, worked 1765–1811
Founder, with François Chatelain, of the Renault Chatelain company. All surviving instruments in Brussels, St Petersburg, Paris and various other musical instrument museums are of the lute family. However Henley reports violins which are robust but neat and attractive, with yellow varnish; also flat\u{2026} — John Dilworth
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cello | 74.5 cm Paris, 1778 | December 2008 | £20,477 |
Maker Overview
Life
Sebastien RENAULT (circa 1765-1811) worked in Paris, France., he was a founder, with François Chatelain, of the Renault Chatelain company, working circa 1765-1811. Cecie Stainer, however, states he was a maker in Paris from about 1775 to 1805. He lived in the rue de Braque and also on rue Sainte Avoy. He was in partnership with F. Chatelain for some time, but also worked alone. Labels associated with him include "S. B. Renault, Luthier / rue Sainte Avoy, vis-à-vis / celle de Braque au marais. / Paris. 1804" and partnership labels such as "Renault & Chatelain, rue de Braque au / coin de la rue Ste Avoye. A Paris. 1760" and "A la renommée rue de Braque au marais / Renault et Chatelain, luthiers, / font et vendent toutes sortes / d'instruments de musique, etc. / à Paris." Cecie Stainer also cites labels like "Renault et Chatelain rue de Braque au coin de la rue St-Avoye a Paris, 1797," and "A la renommee, rue de Braque, au marais, Renault et Chatelain, luthiers, font et vendent louent, achetent et raccommodent toutes sortes d'instruments de musique, etc., a Paris."
Characteristics
- Instrument Types
- All surviving instruments in Brussels, St Petersburg, Paris, and various other musical instrument museums are of the lute family.
- Violins
- John Dilworth mentions that Henley reports violins that are robust but neat and attractive, with yellow varnish. Cecie Stainer describes a violin made on a good pattern, with yellow varnish of fair quality. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that his violins are well-made after a pretty model and have yellow varnish. Henri Poidras also mentions good make, yellow varnish, and robust instruments.
- Violas
- John Dilworth mentions that Henley reports flat arched violas with brown varnish, though these are presently unknown and unverified.
- Lute Family Instruments
- Cithers by Renault are known dated 1779, 1786, and 1804. Theorbes, cithers, and harps are more frequently encountered than his violins. Examples include a theorbe and an interesting cither in the Paris Conservatorium Museum, and a pedal harp in Berlin.
- S. B. Renault, Luthier
rue Sainte Avoy, vis-à-vis
celle de Braque au marais.
Paris. 1804John Dilworth - Renault & Chatelain, rue de Braque au
coin de la rue Ste Avoye. A Paris. 1760John Dilworth - A la renommée rue de Braque au marais
Renault et Chatelain, luthiers,
font et vendent toutes sortes
d’instruments de musique, etc.
à ParisJohn Dilworth
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
RENAULT, Sébastien Worked circa. 1765-1811 Paris France. Founder, with François Chatelain, of the Renault Chatelain company. All surviving instruments in Brussels, St Petersburg, Paris and various other musical instrument museums are of the lute family. However Henley reports violins which are robust but neat and attractive, with yellow varnish; also flat arched violas with brown varnish. These presently unknown and unverified. S. B. Renault, Luthier / rue Sainte Avoy, vis-à-vis / celle de Braque au marais. / Paris. 1804 Renault & Chatelain, rue de Braque au / coin de la rue Ste Avoye. A Paris. 1760 A la renommée rue de Braque au marais / Renault et Chatelain, luthiers, / font et vendent toutes sortes / d’instruments de musique, etc. / à Paris.
Cecie Stainer+
A maker in Paris about 1775 to 1805, living in the rue de Braque. Cithers of his are known dated 1779, 1786, and 1804 ; a violin is described as made on a good pattern, with yellow varnish of fair quality. He was in partnership with F. Chatelain for some time, he then used the labels : ” Renault et Chatelain rue de Braque au coin de la rue St-Avoye a Paris, 1797,” and “A la renommee, rue de Braque, au marais, Renault et Chatelain, luthiers, font et vendent louent, achetent et raccommodent toutes sortes d’instruments de musique, etc., a Paris.”
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er war Theilhaber der Firma »Renault et Chatelain«, hat aber auch allein gearbeitet. Seine Geigen sind nach einem hübschen Modell gut gearbeitet und haben gelben Lack. Häufiger als diese kommen Theorben, Zithern und Harfen von ihm vor. Beispiele dafür im Museum des Pariser Conservatoriums (Theorbe und interessante Zither) und in Berlin (Pedalharfe).
Henri Poidras+
Partner of Chatelain (See this name). Good make. Yellow varnish. Robust instruments.
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Working in Paris at the same time
(Parisse) Claude Paris worked 1770–1814
(Perrault) Perault worked 1770–1790
(Prevot) Charles Prevost worked 1775–1789
Ambroise worked 1750–1810
Antoine Fida worked 1809
Antoine Fouquet-Lecomte worked 1775–1800
Barthelemy Moinel worked 1789
Benoist Flette worked 1755–1788