FREY, JACOB, one of the most able engravers of the 18th century, was boru at I.ucern in 163L After learning the first rudiments of eugraving of a cousin in his native place, ho went to Rome, where lie obtained employment from and was instructed by Westerhout, who also introduced him to the notice of Carlo Maratta, with whom he perfected himself as a draughtsman. Frey made an engraving for Maratta of a drawing of 'Hercules and the Serpent,' after Aunibal Camel, which excited that painter's admiration and astonishment. Frey had used the needle more than was customary at that time with engravers—a practice which Meratta recommended him strongly to pursue.
Frey soon obtained the reputation of the greatest engraver at Rome and uf his time. lie engraved iu all eighty pieces, including many of the finest works of Italian art. Among the principal are—'St. Jerome,' and Martyrdom of St. Sebaetiau; after Domenichino; ' St. Romualdo,'
after Saccbi ; a copy of a Holy Family,' by Edeliuck, after llafl'aello; the 'Aurora,' after Guido ; and Revere] admirable plates after Maratta, Cignaui, Annibal Canted, and others. The 'Aurora,' after Guido, was one of Frey's favourite pieces ; it is beautifully drawn, and the 'Hours' have a surprising degree of buoyancy and motion : though less careful iu the detail of the accessaries, Frey's is a very superior print to that made by Raffaelle Morghen of the same subject, especially in the extremities and general treatment of the Hours' and 'Aurora,' which are the essential portion of the composition. lie died at Rome in 1752. There is a notice of him and a list of his works in T. C. Fagatrsl?a Geschichts der besteu KitnstIer in der Schweits;' there is also au account of him in Gandellini's Notizie Istoricho degli Intagliatori.'