De Mortain, Gilles; Le Pautre, Pierre (1660-1744)

LES PLANS, PROFILS, // ET ELEVATIONS, // DES VILLE, // ET CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES, // avec les Bosquets, et Fontaines, // TELS QUILS SONT A PRESENT; // Levez sur les Lieux, Dessinez et Gravez // en 1714. et 1715. // DÉDIEZ AU ROI. // Ce qui s'observe lorsqu'on fait voir les Bosquets et Fontainea // par Ordre de SA MAJESTÉ. // Sortant du Château, on trouve sur la Terasse deux grands Bassins ornez de // Jets d'eau, et de figures de bronze. A droit est la Parterre du Nord, et a gauche // celui du Midy; ou regne une Balustrade de marbre blanc, par dessus laquelle // on voit l'Orangerie, ce qui est représenté dans la 9.e Planche du pres.t Recüeuil. // Sur la même Terrasse, il y a les Bassins de Diane, et du Point du Jour. // ...// A PARIS // Chez DEMORTAIN pont Nôtre-Dame, aux belles Estampes. // avec privilege DU ROI.//

[Bound with 3 plates from]

Les Plans, Coupes, Profils Et Elevations De la Chapelle du Chasteau Royal de Versailles
Paris, n/d

Paris: Chez DEMORTAIN pont Nôtre-Dame, aux belles Estampes. // avec privilege DU ROI.; Privilege mentions. 30. Jan 1716;. Edition: First Edition , Binding: Contemporary full mottled calf; rebacked expertly, saving the original spine; raised with seven blind bands, compartments in ornamental gilt; gilt lettered title on brown morocco label on two; endpapers and edges marbled. , Notes: Captions in French.
“De Mortain. [Les Plans, profils…,] “the publisher of these views of the city and palace of Versailles, which are designed and engraved by prominent artists and draftsmen of the time, including Pierre Le Pautre, in the format of the earlier Petit Marot (cat. 118, 1985.61.2541). The illustrations appear to have been taken from plates acquired by de Mortain, since they include older material, such as a view by Sebastien Le Clerc and two François Blondel illustrations. The publication indicates the growing interest of the public in the royal palaces and public buildings of France, and parallels the introduction of popular guide books providing information to a new, popular reader, the private traveler.”

“Le Pautre. Les plans, coupes. . .
PIERRE LE PAUTRE is THE SON OF THE BRILLIANT, PROLIFIC ARTIST AND
engraver Jean Le Pautre (see cat. 98, 1985.61.712-2496). From his father he received his training in ornament design and perspective: he early showed a great facility for engraving and a special affinity for architectural design, in which he was probably influenced by Augustin-Charles d'Aviler (cat. 14, 1985.61.376). Among his early works were engravings of illustrations for the
publications of d'Aviler (…) and Charles Perrault (…). Because of his architectural ability he was appointed dessinateur du roi, working there with Lassurance the Elder under Jules Hardouin Mansart. He and Lassurance may be responsible for much of the work emanating from Mansart's studio from 1690 to 1708, the death date of Mansart. Fiske Kimball states that Le Pautre played the essential creative role there in the years from his appointment to Mansart's death, and credits him with the introduction of the new rococo style of decoration, a style based on natural rather than architectural models, and resulting in a lighter and thinner decoration. This magnificent folio collection of superb engravings of the Versailles chapel is the chief among Pierre Le Pautre's extensive and excellent oeuvre. Bibliography: Destailleur, Henri. Notice sur quelques artistes françaises. Paris, 1863. Kimball, Fiske. The Creation of the Rococo. New York, 1943”
, Size: folio (502 x 374 mm). , Illustration: Illustrated with thirty-six (36) engraved plates: consisting of the engraved title to Demortain’s work with the coat of arms of the Bourbon dynasty (three fleur de lis at its centre), the engraved title to Le Pautre’s work, two (2) further plates to work II, thirty-two (32) further plates to work I depicting Versailles’ superb architecture and garden designs. Many plates are unnumbered; the works do not appear in order but as described and consistent with Millard. , Provenance: bookplate on upper pasted endpaper: with overlaid initials ‘M’, ‘I’, and ‘R’ // ‘1774’., References: Cohen-de-Ricci 808; Millard French 121-2. Berlin Kat. 2491 for de Mortain and 2493 for Le Pautre. , Pages: Ll: Bl. 2, title leaves 2, [ill.33], privilege, bl.2., Category: Book Europe France; Book Art, Architecture & Design; Book Plate Books General;. Few plates reinforced, minor tear repairs. Very attractive, handspme example with mostly wide-margined plates crisp and clean. Plates and endpapers watermarked. Item #B6283

Edition: First Edition , Binding: Contemporary full mottled calf; rebacked expertly, saving the original spine; raised with seven blind bands, compartments in ornamental gilt; gilt lettered title on brown morocco label on two; endpapers and edges marbled. , Notes: Captions in French.
“De Mortain. [Les Plans, profils…,] “the publisher of these views of the city and palace of Versailles, which are designed and engraved by prominent artists and draftsmen of the time, including Pierre Le Pautre, in the format of the earlier Petit Marot (cat. 118, 1985.61.2541). The illustrations appear to have been taken from plates acquired by de Mortain, since they include older material, such as a view by Sebastien Le Clerc and two François Blondel illustrations. The publication indicates the growing interest of the public in the royal palaces and public buildings of France, and parallels the introduction of popular guide books providing information to a new, popular reader, the private traveler.”

“Le Pautre. Les plans, coupes. . .
PIERRE LE PAUTRE is THE SON OF THE BRILLIANT, PROLIFIC ARTIST AND
engraver Jean Le Pautre (see cat. 98, 1985.61.712-2496). From his father he received his training in ornament design and perspective: he early showed a great facility for engraving and a special affinity for architectural design, in which he was probably influenced by Augustin-Charles d'Aviler (cat. 14, 1985.61.376). Among his early works were engravings of illustrations for the
publications of d'Aviler (…) and Charles Perrault (…). Because of his architectural ability he was appointed dessinateur du roi, working there with Lassurance the Elder under Jules Hardouin Mansart. He and Lassurance may be responsible for much of the work emanating from Mansart's studio from 1690 to 1708, the death date of Mansart. Fiske Kimball states that Le Pautre played the essential creative role there in the years from his appointment to Mansart's death, and credits him with the introduction of the new rococo style of decoration, a style based on natural rather than architectural models, and resulting in a lighter and thinner decoration. This magnificent folio collection of superb engravings of the Versailles chapel is the chief among Pierre Le Pautre's extensive and excellent oeuvre. Bibliography: Destailleur, Henri. Notice sur quelques artistes françaises. Paris, 1863. Kimball, Fiske. The Creation of the Rococo. New York, 1943”
, Size: folio (502 x 374 mm). , Illustration: Illustrated with thirty-six (36) engraved plates: consisting of the engraved title to Demortain’s work with the coat of arms of the Bourbon dynasty (three fleur de lis at its centre), the engraved title to Le Pautre’s work, two (2) further plates to work II, thirty-two (32) further plates to work I depicting Versailles’ superb architecture and garden designs. Many plates are unnumbered; the works do not appear in order but as described and consistent with Millard. , Provenance: bookplate on upper pasted endpaper: with overlaid initials ‘M’, ‘I’, and ‘R’ // ‘1774’., References: Cohen-de-Ricci 808; Millard French 121-2. Berlin Kat. 2491 for de Mortain and 2493 for Le Pautre. , Pages: Ll: Bl. 2, title leaves 2, [ill.33], privilege, bl.2., Category: Book Europe France; Book Art, Architecture & Design; Book Plate Books General;.

Price: $9,000.00