[Paris, Panckoucke, 1823-1832].
Folio [482 x 323 mm] of 64 plates. Half straight-gained green morocco, double gilt fillet, decorated spine. Contemporary binding.
First edition and first issue of the most beautiful French illustrated book of the Restoration with 64 full-page plates sumptuously watercolored at the time by Garneray illustrating the ports, cities and coasts of France from the North sea to the Mediterranean.
This book, divided into 3 parts, published in 16 issues (and not 15 as mentions by Brunet) of 4 plates each with a text, is rarely complete with its 64 prints. They were sometimes bound alone, without the text, case of the present copy.
Louis Ambroise Garneray (1783-1857) left the French Navy in 1800. Captured by the English in 1806 and freed on May 18, 1814, he returned to Paris.
“He was admirably gifted in the arts and, in fact, during his career as a sailor, had never stopped drawing and painting. He went back to work, probably worked with family members, learnt engraving from Debucourt and began to exhibit. He made a name for himself in 1815 with “La descente des émigrés français à Quiberon“, which was admitted to the Salon and acquired by the Count of Artois. From then on, Garneray was a court painter, worked for the Duke of Berry, and in 1817 competed for the position of marine painter for the Duke of Angouleme, Admiral of France, who accepted him.
In 1820, he married Anne-Julie-Josephine Cavaroz, daughter of an administrator of the Quinze-Vingts, and undertook, with Etienne Jouy, a great work: “Vues des côtes de France dans l’Océan et dans la Méditerranée“, which led him to visit all the ports of France from 1820 to 1823.
The painting of Louis Garneray is of great value. His seascapes, luminous and well colored, admirably composed, where the harmony of the whole equals the accuracy of the details, are among the most beautiful that were exhibited in his time.
At the end of 1841, Garneray asked to work for the Manufacture of Sevres; he was admitted without an official title, which gave him complete freedom. He provided many models for painting on porcelain but did not reside at Sevres”.
This magnificent work is here in perfect condition. All the watercolored engravings are remarkably fresh.
It is preserved in its elegant binding in contemporary green half-morocco.
As for the price of “ Vues de Port de Garneray “, it literally flies away.
Vue du port d’Anvers 41 x 69 cm :
50 € – March 27, 1947 at Drouot.
Vue du port d’Anvers 41 x 69 cm :
63,000 € – on 23/10/2006 at Drouot (Beaussant-Lefèvre).
Complete copies of the 64 prints in superb coloring and binding of the time are highly sought after.
£56,000 (about € 95,000) on March 30, 1994 at Christie’s London, lot 63.
159 033 SF (140 000 €) on November 12, 2006 at Koller-Geneva, lot 1539.
A precious copy of the very rare issue before the right letter and with the numbering of the prints.
