Sebastien Renault

History

Sebastien RENAULT (circa 1765-1811) worked in Paris, France. According to John Dilworth, 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, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. 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."

Craft

• 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.

Further Information

• Addresses: He worked from rue Sainte Avoy, vis-à-vis celle de Braque au marais, and also from rue de Braque au coin de la rue Ste Avoye.
• Labels: Labels 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." Other labels cited are "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."