Hashavia, Arye / Benjamin, G. [Ed.]MareMagnum
Album of works by Perelle later entitled: ‘Les places portes fontaines eÌglises Maisons at Jardins de Paris’; ‘Veuës des bellesMaisons des Environs de Parisâ€; ‘Veuës des plus beaux endroits de Versailles’; ‘Veües des belles Maisons de France’; ‘Veües de Rome et des environs’.<br> <br>
1660B6282Paris: N. Langlois n/a c.1660’s-1670’s. Expertly rebacked; few tear repairs mostly marginal; overall in near fine condition with plates clean and crisp. . Binding: Contemporary mottled full calf; expertly rebacked; spine with five 5 raised bands; gilt lettered title on morocco label on two; compartments with central gilt floral ornament; dated; endpapers renewed; all edges cut. Notes: PERELLE GABRIEL 1603/or 10/ or 20 - 1675/or77/ or 80 an eminent French designer and engraver born at Paris. He excelled in drawing and engraving landscapes and views of which we have a prodigious number which prove the fertility of his invention and an extraordinary facility of execution rather than an observant study of nature. They are however composed in a very pleasing style and executed with neatness and taste. He usually enriched them with ruins and other objects which give an agreeable variety to his scenery. His principal defect is in the management of his masses and his lights are scattered and in spots by which the general effect of his prints is materially injured. Although by far the greater part of his plates are from his own compositions he also engraved from the designs of several other masters particularly Paul Brill Gaspar Poussin Jan Asselyn and above all after Silvestre. He was assisted in his numerous works by his sons ADAM 1638/ or 40-1695 and Nicholas b.1631/ or 38- 1695 PERELLE who after his death engraved a great number of plates of architectural views landscapes &c. but which are inferior to those of their father. <br>He is considered the Hollar of France both in his style of engraving and the esteem in which his views are held. His large views of public buildings and gardens in France Italy and Spain were published with those of Silvestre in 1680; and there is a set of smaller views by these artists.<br><br> Size: oblong folio 285x370mm Illustration: Illustrated with 164 architectural etchings of palaces great houses and churches detailed views of their gardens gates squares fountains etc. The album of Perelle engravings depict four 4 overall areas 1. Paris and surroundings 2. Versailles 3. France and 4. A collection on Rome - the latter containing six 6 plates etchings after drawings by Asselyn. This attractive album consists solely of large views no plan outlines or small sized half-paged etchings otherwise often featured as part of these albae. Title pages point to the publication being very early – not yet including the imprints printed in later publications.<br>The album on Paris containing 61 plates starts with a title without imprint but signatures by Perelle and Langlois; perspective views of Paris follow with its bridges the Seine the Louvre and Tuileries the Palais-Royal the Luxembourg or ‘Palais d'Orleans’ the Place Dauphine the College des quatre nations; the small island of the Notre Dame on the Seine the city hall the famous entrance gates to the city: Porte de la Conference St.Honore St. Denis St. Martin St.Bernard and St.Anthoine; depictions of monuments and buildings as the l'Arc de Triomphe the Notre Dame the ‘Monastere Royal de Val de Grace’ fountains and the observatory the ‘Invalides’ l'Hospital de la Salpestriere gardens of the Hotel de Conde and St. Victor. The views of the surrounding Paris feature the Chateau de Vincennes Conflans the Chateau of St. Maur the Chateau of Madrid the Chateau of St. Cloud the Chateau of Meudon the House of Boisfrant at St.Ouen the Grotte of Ruel.<br>The album on Versailles with 36 plates # 62- 97 starts with its title page without imprint then depicts perspectives of the castle the gardens and castle grounds the king's stables the great entrance cascades grottes water-fountains bassins dedicated to gods and the menagerie.<br>Perelle’s great houses of France with 45 plates #98-142 begins with its titlepage with no imprint except signatures followed by more buildings in the environs of Paris of Chaville St. Germain en Laye Maison Sceaux Rincy Pompone Choisi; this is followed by views of Fontaine-bleau the Chateau of the Vaux le Vicomte of Villiers-Coste-Rez Monceaux Liencour Chantilly Richelieu and Ancy.<br>The Rome or fourth album with 22 etchings starts with a title leaf without imprint but signatures of Perelle and N. Langlois; followed by magnificent views of St. Peter St. Angelo the new capitol and the arc of Constantin and the Colisseum the arc of Septimus Severus the bath of Emperor Diocletian; a group of six unsigned plates after I. Asselin e. showing Charles V Rome’s aquaeduct the Colisseum 2 ruins of the Palais Maior ruins of Marius’ trophies; this is followed by views of the Vigne Pamphili with its entrance garden amphitheatre and the fountain of Venus; at the end a plate depicting the fountain of Tivoli.<br> References: Michael Bryan Dictionary of Painters and Engravers Biographical and Critical 1849 p.560; Berlin Katalog 2483&2675; BNF - Getty Research Institute 2015 pp. 90-115 chap. II: Architecture and engraved views; Brunet IV p. 494; Fowler p. 245; Ganay Category: Book Art Architecture & Design; Book Plate Books General; Book Europe France; Book Europe Italy; N. Langlois hardcover
