Les Tapisseries Du Feu-Roy Louis XIIII. (De Glorieuse Memoire,) en douze Feüilles, et celles de Feuë Son Alt. Rle. Monseigr. le Duc d'Orleans, en huit feüilles; Peintes par Charles Le-Brun, Ecuïer, Premier Peintre du Roy, et gravées par Sébastien Le Clerc, et Bernard Picart (Le Romain), Graveurs du Roy, en son Academie Roïale de Peinture & Sculpture.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
05/1389
Variant Title
Tapisseries De Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans, representant l'Histoire de Meleagre
Imprint
[S.l.:: s.n.],, [ca. 1715].
Physical Description
[22] pl. (incl. 2 t.pl., frontis. (port.)); 499×655 mm.
The first title-plate has the border signed as painted by Ch. le Brun and printed by B. Picart. The frontispiece portrait of Charles Lebrun is unsigned. Most of the remaining twelve plates are signed as painted by Lebrun and engraved by S. Le Clerc (in one case as designed by Lebrun, painted by Pet. Seue and engraved by 'Sim. LeClerc').
In the second series all plates are signed as painted by Ch. LeBrun and engraved by B. Picart; but these signatures seem to refer to the borders only, as several plates are additionally signed within the plate, as painted by Ch. Le Brun, drawn by B. Picart or J.M. Nattier and engraved by J. Folkema, L. Surugue or Q. Fonbonne.
References
D. Wildenstein, 'Les oeuvres de Charles Lebrun d'après les graveurs de son temps', in Gaz. B.-A., n.s. 5, lxvi (1965), p.1-58.
A survey of Ovidian publications was M.D. Henkel, 'Illustrierte Ausgabe von Ovids Metamorphosen im XV., XVI. und XVII. Jahrhundert', in Vorträge Bib. Warburg, 6 1926-7), p.58-144. A survey of mythological subjects in 18th-century art was Les amours des dieux ... de Watteau à David [exhibition catalogue] (1991).
Summary Note
The eight plates of the tapestries of the Duc d'Orléans include their own title-plate, which reads, 'Tapisseries De Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans, representant l'Histoire de Meleagre, decrite au 8. livre des Metamporphoses d'Ovide. Executée sur les Tableaux de l'Illustre Charles le Brun Premier Peintre du Roi de France. graveé par Les soins et sous la conduite de B. Picart. Se vendent chez B. Picart a l'etoile a Amsterdam. M.D.CC.XIV.'
In the first series of plates two plates carry the date 1680, and one, that of 1681. The present title-plate of the collection consists of a hand-written title-label pasted within a printed border. Its reference to the 'late' Louis XIV dates it to 1715 or later.
The subject of the first series is the prowess of Louis XIV, represented by four events of his reign (dated 1663 and 1667) and a group of allegories showing Mars and Venus, Apollo, Bacchus, Saturn and Hebe, and Louis as peacegiver and victor by sea and land.
The series of paintings on the Meleager legend had been commissioned from Lebrun in 1658; and their designs had been used for tapestries made for Philippe duc d'Orleans (1640-1701), father of Philippe duc d'Orleans (1674-1723), who became Régent of France in 1715 on the death of Louis XIV.
Copy Note
Plates numbered by hand in ink in lower right corner: [blank], [blank], 2-14, 14-16, [blank], 17-19.
Binding Note
18th-century calf, upper and lower covers having gilt borders and arms of France gilt-stamped centre; rebacked in 19th century, spine lettered 'Tapisseries - Le Brun' and 'R.A. 1714'.
Mythology, Greek - Iconography
Rulers - Monarchs - Publicizing - Publicity - France - 17th century
Paintings, French - Narrative art - France - 17th century
Tapestries - Designs - France - 17th century
Pictorial works - Armorial bindings - France - 18th century