Paris, F. Poilly, [1673].
Folio of 31 copper engravings, the first one bearing the title, few small restorations in the white margins. Modern red morocco, double blind-stamped fillet around the covers, flat spine with gilt title, gilt over untrimmed edges. Case.
390 x 244 mm.
Sumptuous and very rare collection of 31 copper engravings of birds by Nicolas Robert.
Nissen, IVB, 787; Ronsil 2599; vgl. Bradley Martin 1837; Brunet IV, 1326; Graesse VII, 136; Ronsil 2599; Ronsil L’Art 19, 97; Yale/Ripley 242.
On Robert, see Thieme/Becker XXVIII, 423; A.-P. de Mirimonde “Un peintre de la réalité, Nicolas Robert” in La Revue des Arts (1958) VIII.2.
Nicolas Robert (1614-85) was the “Painter to the King” Louis XIV since 1644.
This spectacular suite of the greatest rarity is reminiscent of the original watercolors of ornithology on vellum that Nicolas Robert produced for Gaston d’Orléans and Louis XIV.
From 1666, as part of his role as “Peintre ordinaire du Roi pour la miniature,” Robert was required to provide a minimum of 54 original watercolors on vellum of natural history per year. He drew his ornithological subjects primarily from the Menagerie de Versailles, but did not work exclusively for the king.
He continued to engrave and publish his own works in collaboration with other artists: the present work is a significant example.
The 31 compositions do, however, show some stylistic differences from the vellum paintings Robert produced for Louis XIV: the subjects are depicted within elaborate landscapes, and most plates include multiple subjects, giving the plates a liveliness that is often lacking in ornithological works.
The birds are designated in the engraving by their Latin and French names: eagle, vulture, owl, swan, wild goose, gull, crane, heron, stork, ostrich, chicken, turkey, parrot, pigeon…
A very beautiful copy of this sumptuous ornithological work with beautiful proofs of the engravings, with huge margins and untrimmed edges.
