A Paris,: Rue Dauphine. Chez Charles-Antoine Jombert, Libraire du Roi pour l'Artillerie & le Génie, à l'Image Notre-Dame., M. DCC. LI. Avec Privilege Roy.
Physical Description
3 vols.; 331 mm. (Folio).
General Note
Vol. I: [8] p., add. engr. t-pl., 41 sets of pl. numbered 1-41, the pl. in each set being numbered 1-6 except sets 1 (1-26), 26 (1-8), 37 (1-4), 38 (1-12). The six plates of set 39 are all double. - Vol. II: [4] p., add. engr. t.-pl., 46 sets of pl. numbered 42-87, the pl. in each set being numbered 1-6, except sets 42 (1-4), 45 (1-3), 66 (1-2), 72 (1-12), 75 (1-7), 82 (1-7), 83 (1-2), 87 (1-2). The six plates of sets 44, 52, 53, 54 and 55 are printed on three sheets; the three of set 45, on two sheets; the six of sets 49, 58, 60, 62, 63 and 86, on four sheets; the twelve plates of set 72, on six sheets. The six plates of sets 46, 57 and 59 are all double. - Vol. III: [4] p., add. engr. t.-pl., 38 sets of pl. numbered 88-125, the pl. in each set being numbered 1-6 except sets 96 (1-8), 98 (1-4), 107 (1-7), 114 (1-2), 115 (1-4), 117 (1-8), 121 (1-24), 122 (1-4), 124 (1-4), 125 (1-10). The six pl. of sets 94, 100 and 112 are printed on four sheets; the eight of set 96, on seven sheets; the six of set 116, on five sheets; the ten of set 117, on five sheets. The six pl. of sets 88, 90 and 97 are all double, as are the four of sets 98 and 122, the two of set 114, and the ten of set 125. The Table Des Planches describes set 122 as 'en quatre grands planches' but assigns it a total of '6' plates towards its grand total of 246 plates for this volume.
Most plates are signed as drawn and engraved by Jean Le Pautre. Plate 1 of suite 1 is captioned as drawn by Adam Philippon; that of suite 37, as 'Par Mr. Openor'; that of suite 44, as drawn by Sr. Mansard; plate 3 of suite 54 is signed as drawn by P. le Pautre; plate 5 of suite 64, as engraved by P. le Pautre; plate 2 of suite 117 as designed by Carache.
The first plate in each set usually carries the imprint of C.A. Jombert, while all usually carry the earlier imprints of Pierre or Jean Mariette, Trouvain, N. Langlois, or Le Blond.
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 2 (1995), nos. 1833 (on 2nd., undated ed.), 1834-1873 (on earlier states); Guilmard, p. 68-76; National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard, I (1993), 97; Destailleur, Notices, p. 65-79; Bibliothèque National, Bibliotheque Nationale: Inventaire du fonds français, Graveurs du XVIIe siècle Tome 11 ... par Maxime Préaud) (1993), p.56-368.
On 17th-century interior decoration see P. Thornton, Seventeenth-century interior decoration in England, France and Holland (1978 / R 1981).
Summary Note
This a collection of suites of plates by Jean Le Pautre. Each suite had earlier been published separately, and some still carry their earlier dates - 1657 (suite 5), 1659 (suites 13, 79), 1661 (suites 31, 93), 1663 (suite 9), 1667 (suites 59, 76).
The first plate of each of the 125 suites is usually a title-plate. The subtitles of the three title pages describe the general contents of each volume: 1. 'Contenant les Frises, Feuillages, montans ou Pilastres, Grotesques, Moresques, Panneaux, Placarts, Trumeaux, Lambris, Amortissemens, Plafonds, & généralement tout ce qui concerne l'Ornement'; 2. 'Contenant les Portes, Cheminées, Lambris, Alcoves, Cabinets, Portails d'Eglise, Clôtures de Chapelle, Portes de Choeur, Retables d'Autel, Tabernacles, Soleils, Plaques, Eau-Benitiers, Chaires à prêcher, OEuvres & Bancs de Marguilliers, Confessionaux, Sépultures, Epitaphes, & Tombeaux'; 3. 'Contenant dives Desseins de Fontaines, Grottes, Vûes de jardins, Jets d'Eau, Termes, Supports, Vases, Burettes, Cuvettes, Cartouches, Salieres, Trophées d'Armes, Carosses & Chaises roulantes, Bordures de Tableau, Ecussons & Entrées de Serrure, grands Chiffres, Vaisseaux & Galeres, paysages, Compositions allégoriques, & Sujets d'Histoire, tirés de la Fable, des Métamorphoses, de l'Histoire Romaine, de l'ancien & du nouveau Testament, &c.'
A second, undated edition was published under the imprint, 'Chez Cellot et Jombert Fils jeune'.
Provenance
Probably the book for which Thomas Sandby received payment in October 1769 (RA Treasurer's Account Book 1768-1795, 'Oct. 1769 By Cash of T. Sandby for Le Potre £1. 11. 6.').
Binding Note
20th-century mottled calf, gilt-decorated spine, brown morocco spine-labels lettered 'Architec De Le Pautre Tom. I (II, III).
Architecture - Architecture, French - Applied decoration - Ornaments - Interior decoration - Decorative arts - Religious buildings - Religious objects - Garden structures - Fountains - Vases - France - History - 17th century - Baroque
Designs - Pattern books - France - 18th century
Pictorial works - France - 18th century