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Nicolas Dupont

  

Nicolas Dupont, was born on the 3rd of October 1714 in Domnon (being today the village "Domon-lès-Dieuze" in the Lorraine Region, East of France). He was baptized the same day as recorded in the local parish register. His father, Antoine, was a miller by profession and worked at the local Moulin du Haut on the heights of Domnon.

Nicolas had brothers : Friederich, the eldest, born in 1707 and Joseph, born in 1721, who both worked with him at the beginning of his organ builder career, such as the first works were carried by the "Frères Dupont".

It seems unfortunately not to exist any source relating Nicolas’ apprenticeship. Did start in a Lorraine organ manufacture as the one of Claude Moucherel, established in Nancy, or Claude Legros from Metz - himself having done his apprenticeship with the Thierrys in Paris ? - This latter question remains open.

Signature DupNicolas Dupont moves to Paris around the 1730s in order to perfect his skills with one of the most talented organ builders of his time, François Thierry, appointed organ builder of the King and manufacturer of great organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, to which Dupont maybe participated in between 1731 and 1733.

Dupont then comes back in Lorraine around 1740 and realizes some repair work on the Vonesche organ in Château-Salins (Moselle), living in the village of Vergaville.

Maybe did he stay at his sister’s Marie who became later the mother of the future organ builder Nicolas Tollay, who will do his apprenticeship with Nicolas Dupont.

In 1741 his presence is noticed in Nancy where he transferred and put the organ of the Saint-Georges collegiate church back together in Saint-Pierre church. He gets married in January 17th, 1745 in Saint-Epvre in Nancy with Antoinette Poupart who will later have one son, Joseph.

Nicolas Dupont’s activity takes then a bigger dimension, benefiting from the reputation of having worked with the Thierrys in Paris. He will cross the road of rich clients, abbeys and chapters throughout his career.

He sets himself around 1745 in the faubourg of Nancy, in Malzéville, and becomes besides a bourgeois of the city of Nancy in 1756.

His first instrument will be the one installed in Phalsbourg (Moselle). He will work with his brother until 1760 where Joseph will move to Metz.

In his manufacture he will welcome numerous apprentices including his nephew Nicolas Tollay, the german Daniel Schmidt and foremost the one who will be his successor in Nancy : Jean-François Vautrin. He will also meet some of his famous fellows including Jean-André Silbermann and Philip Stumm of Germany.

Nicolas Dupont suddenly dies in his 67th year, on March 3, 1781 at 5am in Malzéville. He is buried on the 5th of March in the municipal cemetery, surrounded by his wife Antoinette, his son Joseph and his brother Joseph. 

 

Archive documents about Nicolas Dupont (French)

 

List of Nicolas Dupont's finest works

  1749-1751      Lunéville    Saint-Jacques Church IV-P    38 stops  
  1751-1755     Toul   Saint-Etienne Cathedral IV-P   42 stops  
  1762     Châlons-en-Champagne   Saint-Alpin Church II-P   29 stops  
  1756-1763     Nancy   Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation Cathedral IV-P   44 stops  
  1762-1766     Verdun   Notre-Dame Cathedral IV-P   44 stops  
  1770-1771     Bar-le-Duc   Saint-Etienne Church III-P   29 stops  
  1773-1778     Neuwiller-lès-Saverne   Saints-Pierre-et-Paul Abbey-church IV-P   32 stops  
  1773-1780     Château-Salins   Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church (formerly Salival Abbey) IV-P   33 stops  
  1781     Champ-le-Duc   Notre-Dame Church I-P   8 stops  

 

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