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ex-libris THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
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A historical retrospective 1 EARLY PRINTED EX-LIBRIS 1470-1700 |
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1d FROM HENRI II TO LOUIS XIV FRENCH BOOKPLATES 1550-1700 |
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1d/13. Pierre II de Loysi (F, 1591- c.1670)
 PIERRE
SARRAGOZ, C3, 114 x 88, c.1640.
Viz. GMN p. 74, ill. p. 75;
Hamilton p. 70. The unusual plate of Sarragoz (†1649), with the portrait of Rudolf II to whom he owed his ennoblement, is one of the earliest etched bookplates. Around 1635, Jacques Callot brought back from Italy the secret of the varnish of Florentine violin-makers which allowed etchers to achieve fine, delicate lines. Many engravers started their plates with etching and then over-engraved small details. |
1d/14. Claude Audran (F, 1592-1677)
GABRIEL DE VALOUS,
C2, 131 x 140, c.1650.
Viz. GMN p. 76, ill. p. 77.
The typical Louis XIV cartouche of this plate helps to confirm its date. Audran was born in Paris, but worked in Lyon. Several artists of the Audran family were active as engravers. |
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1d/15. ? (F)
JEAN BARDIN, C2, 124 x 118, c.1650. MNReg B
185/1.
Viz. Hamilton p. 72.An unusual ecclesiastical ex-libris from Normandy, where the traditional religious attributes have been replaced by a sun surrounded by clouds. |
1d/16. ? (F)
ANDRé FéLIBIEN, C2, 98 x 84, 1650.
Viz. Hamilton p. 13, 74, ill. p. 79.; GMN pp. 64, 84, ill. p. 65.
The fifth dated French ex-libris. The owner (1619-1695) was a noted author and historiographer to the King under Colbert. A smaller size with shorter inscription exists. One of the earliest examples of arms placed on an architectural base, a feature which was to become common in later Louis XIV plates. |
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1d/17. ? (F) JEAN DE LAUNAY, C3, 205 x 154, 1662.
Viz. Hamilton p. 177, GMN p. 68.
Contrary to heraldic usage, the de Launay bookplate shows the
shield with one tenant (wild man) and one supporter (leopard).
Showing more than one helm is very rare in French heraldry,
although common in Germany. De Launay was of Flemish origin.
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1d/18. ? (F) POURROY DE L’AUBERIVIèRE, COMTE DE
QUINSONAS, C2, 123 x 101, 89 x 67, c.1670.
Another example of an ex-libris of which there are two sizes, for
usage in different sizes of books, a fairly common feature in this
period.
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1d/19. Prieur (F) DE BEAULAC, C2, 169 x 151, c.1670.
This plate by an artist from Montpellier is definitely later than its style suggests – but though Montpellier was an important intellectual centre, it was far away from trend-setting Paris. |
1d/20. ? (F)
ADRIEN DE VALOIS DE LA MARE, C3, 104 x 86,
c.1670. Viz. GMN p. 67.
As GMN points out, armorial supporters and tenants in the second half of the 17th century gain rare exuberance. This plate for a historiographer to the King is a good example. |
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1d/21. Jean Regnault (F)
TIREMOIS D’HEQUERVILLE, C2,
134 x 111, c.1680.
Viz. Hamilton p. 334.Hamilton indicates Regnault as having worked in the 18th century, but Wiggishof dates his work to the second half of the 17th century. The plate’s style seems to suggest that it is from the late 17th century. |
1d/22. Jean Toustain (F)
FRANçOIS DE LA FOSSE
(ex dono), C2, 106 x 72, c.1680.
Viz. Hamilton p. 340,
GMN p. 81.
Toustain of Normandy was one of the most prolific ex-libris engravers of the period, and about a dozen signed pieces by him are known. This is one of the scarcest, for books given by the owner to an ecclesiastical library in Rouen. |
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1d/23. ? (F)
PIERRE HUET (ex dono), C2, 222 x 154, 1692.
Viz. GMN p. 67 ill., Hamilton p. 78. The Bishop of Avranches, a ‘Most Illustrious Prince of the Church’ as he is described on the ex-libris, gave the 8321 volumes of his book collection to the Jesuit library in Paris. Four different sizes of this plate were used to mark the donated books. |
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1d/24. ? (F)
JEAN NICOLAS DE TRALAGE (ex dono?), C3,
128 x 95, c.1698.
Viz. Hamilton p. 82. An interesting ex-libris which exists in two versions: one with the name flanked by two monograms, and this one which states the date and place of birth of the owner, 20 March 1646 in Limoges. It seems likely that the plates were made in 1698, when Tralage offered his rich collections to the Abbey of St. Victor. |
1d/25. Sébastien Le Clerc (F, 1637-1714)
PHILIPPE
EMMANUEL BARNIER, C2, 161 x 107, c.1700. MNReg B216/1.
Viz.
GMN p. 79.
An early example of how Louis XIV style ex-libris decoration started becoming more sculptural and rigid. |
End of 1d
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