He was born to Eugénie, née Hime, and Frédéric-Guillaume Laguillermie (1805–1870), an engraver and printer, who was the associate cartographer for Victor Levasseur.[1] He received his initial training in his father's studio then, in 1861, entered the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied etching with Léopold Flameng, and painting with William Bouguereau.
In 1862, he became one of the first members of the original Société des aquafortistes [fr], founded by Alfred Cadart, who published several of his early plates. His first exhibit at the Salon came in 1863. He won the Prix de Rome in 1866, for his intaglio work, and spent four years at the Villa Medici.[2] In 1869, he made a visit to Spain to copy the masterworks of Diego Vélazquez.
Not long after his return to France, the Franco-Prussian War began. During the Siege of Paris, he attempted to enlist. Later, during the Commune, he was able to remain in Paris by taking refuge in the studios of his teacher, Bouguereau, who had fled to La Rochelle.
In 1883, he was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor.[3] Two years later, he was the founder of a new "Société des aquafortistes français", which came under the artistic direction of Flameng. Its governing committee included publishers such as Henri Floury [fr], Alphonse Lemerre and Pierre-Jules Hetzel.[4]
^"Société artistique des aquafortistes français", In: Janine Bailly-Herzberg, Dictionnaire de l'estampe en France (1830-1950), Flammarion, 1985, pg.365.
Further reading
Henri Beraldi, Les Graveurs du XIXe siècle, volume IX, Paris. L. Conquet, 1889, pg.13
Philippe Le Bomin (Ed.), Hommage à Frédéric Laguillermie (1841-1934) : graveur - aquafortiste - peintre, exhibition catalogue, Galerie de la Nacelle à Aubergenville, Chambourcy, ESAT l'atelier, 2009