Traité Historique Et Pratique De La Gravure En Bois, Par J. M. Papillon, Graveur en Bois, & ancien Associé de la Société Académique des Arts. Ouvrage enrichi des plus jolis morceaux de sa composition & de sa gravure. Tome Premier. Contenant toute la partie Historique. (Second Contenant tous les principes de cet Art.)
Vol. I: [Half-t., , frontis. (port.), t.p., dedic.] - Préface; Avis - Table Des Chapitres De Ce Volume - [Text and plate] - Table Des anciens Sculpteurs ou Graveurs ... - Table Générale Des Graveurs en Bois pour les Estampes, les Camayeux & les Livres; Approbation; Extrait du Registre des assemblées de la Société des Arts; Privilege Du Roi - Additions Historiques Et Importantes Du Present Tome ... - Avis Aux Curieux; Avis Aux Relieurs. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - Table Des Chapitres De Ce Volume; Corrections Et Additions Du second Tome; Avertissement - [Text and plates] - Errata Et Correction. - Vol. III: [Half-t., t.p.] - [Text] - Table Du Tome Troisieme - Discours Nuptial Prononcé A La Célébration Du Mariage de Monsieur Joly ... Le 13 Juin 1768 ... Par le R.P. Chavelier ... - Lettre de M. David (1758) - Table Générale Des Matieres Et Principes, Contenus dans les trois Tomes du Traité Historique & Pratique de la Gravure en Bois.
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece portrait in Volume I is signed as drawn by J. Bap. Noel Gamot junior and engraved and drawn by Caron. The plates are unsigned.
The title-page vignette of Volume I and several other in-text decorations are signed as designed and engraved by Papillon.
The work is dedicated by Papillon to the Marquis de Boyer de Bandol.
Summary Note
The publication date of 1766 is given on the three title pages, but the third volume contains a 'Discours Nuptial ... 1768'.
The title of the third volume reads, 'Supplément Du Traité Historique Et Pratique De La Gravure En Bois. Par J.M. Papillon, Graveur en Bois, & ancien Associé de la Société Académique des Arts. Ouvrage enrichi des plus jolis morceaux de sa composition & de sa gravure. Tome Troisieme Contenant plusieurs faits historiques, de nouvelles manieres, servant à perfectionner cet Art, les Arrêts rendus en faveur de la Gravure, & une Table des Matieres des trois Volumes. A Paris, Chez Pierre-Guillaume Simon, Imprimeur du Parlement, rue de la Harpe, à l'Hercule. - M. DCC. LXVI. Avec Approbation Et Privilege Du Roi.'
The frontispiece of Volume I shows a portrait of J. Baptiste Michel Papillon.
The plate in Volume I, showing St Andrew, is a chiaroscuro woodcut; and the five plates in Volume II, showing a draped figure carrying a book, are an unusual series of prints from five variant chiaroscuro woodcuts, which would be used in succession to compose one final image.
In-text illustrations show technical aspects of wood-engraving. The whole book is copiously decorated with examples of the vignettes, headpieces and tailpieces for which Papillon is now best known. Papillon was indeed so much in demand for this type of decorative wood-engraving and spent so much time at it that he wore out his own eyesight and was suspected by his wife of infidelity.
Provenance
In Volume I a preliminary leaf of Volume I is inscribed in ink, 'Roger Greisley [?]: Vienna [?]. 1833.' The verso of the front loose endpaper is inscribed in pencil 'S:A:H', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81.
Binding Note
20th-century mottled calf; gilt-decorated spines, brown morocco spine-labels lettered 'Traité De La Gr En Bois Tom I (II)'.
Subject
Wood engraving (process) - Chiaroscuro woodcuts - Color printing - Europe - History
Art history - France - 18th century
Pictorial works - Wood engravings - Chiaroscuro woodcuts - Color printing - France - 18th century - Rococo