| Gabriel, Nicolas and Adam Perelle — Vues des belles maisons de France. -Les places, portes, fountaines, eglises, et maisons de Paris. -Veues des belles maisons des environs de Paris. -Veues de plus beaux endroits de Versailles. -Veues des belles maisons de France. -Veues de Rome et des Envi |
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Vues des belles maisons de France. -Les places, portes, fountaines, eglises, et maisons de Paris. -Veues des belles maisons des environs de Paris. -Veues de plus beaux endroits de Versailles. -Veues des belles maisons de France. -Veues de Rome et des Envi |
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7 parts in one volume, oblong folio(11 4/8 x 15 1/8 inches). 294 fine engraved plates on 253 leaves distributed as: I: engraved title-page and 23 plates (on 20 leaves.); II: engraved title-page and 45 plates (on 46 leaves.); III: engraved title-page and 36 plates (on 30 leaves.); IV: engraved title-page, large folding map of " des Villes et Chateau de Versailles, and 44 plates; V: engraved title-page, 2 folding plans of Fontaine Bleu and Chantilly (small repaired tear near the gutter), and 57 plates (on 54 leaves.); VI: engraved title-page and 62 plates (on 41 leaves.); VII: engraved title-page and 17 plates (on 18 leaves) (some very light browning to one or two plates, but BRIGHT AND ATTRACTIVE). 18th-century mottled calf, gilt board edges, mottled fore-edges, two pin fastenings on lower cover (expertly rebacked to style, a few other discreet repairs, modern marbled endpapers, without clasps). Provenance: 18th-century manuscript index at the beginning; Foljambe Collection removed from Osberton Hall, with the discreet woodcut library stamp of Francis Ferrand Foljambe (1749 - 1814) at the foot of the first title-page, his sale 30th April 2008, lot 135. An extensive and FINE series of engravings depicting the major French chateaux and gardens, including Versailles and Fountainebleau, and Parisian views and architectural landmarks. Although no two albums of topographical views of France with engravings by the Perelle family are identical, they can be dated variously from about 1750 to 1800, and were issued by any one of four generations of the Langlois and Mariette family of publishers. This particular album was issued by Nicolas Langlois the first (1640-1703), son of the influential publisher Pierre Langlois, and stepson of Pierre Mariette the first. This series has uniform Langlois imprints and agrees with Berlin Kat., 2483 and 2675, including the view "La Place St. Marc à Venise" at the end; the last view is of the Escurial at Madrid. As to the date of issue: the second plate in this series depicts "Le Pont Royal des Thuileries " which the caption states was begun in 1685 and finished 1687. An almanach for the year 1694 records Nicolas Langlois advertising his album of "Belles Maisons de France", in 1701 a legal inventory of the Langlois merchandise listed a set of copper-plates for Perelle's "Belles Maisons de France" printable in 253 pages as here, and it is known that Nicolas Langlois I issued albums of Perelle engravings until his death in 1703. The Perelles were an influential family of French artists whose engravings of French 17th-century gardens are a valuable record of their appearance. Gabriel Perelle (1595 - 1677 ) who studied drawing with Daniel Rabel, had two sons, Nicolas Perelle (born 1631) and Adam Perelle ( 1640 - 1695). Their work is so similar in style and was often signed simply 'Fait par Perelle', and so difficult to attribute individually. Berlin Kat. 2483, 2675; cf. Fowler 245 and Millard I, 136-37; William Roberts "Perelle's Topographical Albums", 2006; Kenneth Woodbridge , Princely Gardens (1986). |
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