MONNOYER, Jean Baptiste (1636-1699)

[Album of 17 engraved plates of bouquets of flowers in vases, baskets or garlands from:] [Livre de toutes sortes de fleurs d'après nature]

[Paris]: N. de Poilly, [1670-1680]. Broadsheets. 17 engraved plates by and after Monnoyer, second states (of III), each corner mounted into the album. Sheet sizes vary between 20 1/4 x 16 1/4 inches to 21 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches. (Some expert restoration at the sheet edges).

Expertly bound to style in half eighteenth century russia over eighteenth century marbled paper covered boards, spine gilt

A significant selection from Monnoyer's very rare 17th century series of floral still life engravings.

The present plates comprise images from four of Monnoyer's very rare suites: 1) Livres de Plusieurs Varie de Fleurs faicts d'Apres le Naturel: Engraved title with dedication to Le Brun and 8 plates depicting bouquets in vases [complete] 2) Livres de Plusieurs Corbeilles de Fleurs: 3 engraved plates, with the title engraved on the first [complete] 3) Livres de Plusieurs Paniers de Fleurs:4 engraved plates, with the title engraved on the first [complete]. 4) Guirlande de Fleurs: 1 engraved plate (of 2), with the title engraved onto the plate. Dunthorne details each of the 12 separate suites by Monnoyer. The present selection includes three complete suites (identified by Dunthorne as Vases of Flowers, Large Upright Baskets of Flowers and Arrangements in Baskets), as well as the first of two images from the Garlands of Flowers series. The plates present here are Dunthorne's second state (of three), with the artist identified only as Jean Baptiste, with the address of Pouilly and with the privilege line. Born in Lille in 1636, Monnoyer first studied in Antwerp as a student of Davidsz de Heem, before going to Paris where he rapidly established his reputation and set a style of decorative flower painting for the adornment of great French residences. In 1665 he was accepted as a member of the Academy; in 1673 he exhibited four paintings at the Salon. Patronized by Le Brun, Louis XIV's Minister of Arts, Jean Baptiste Monnoyer was employed to decorate the royal palaces at Versailles, Saint Cloud, Vincennes, le Grand Trianon, Meudon and Marly. He also designed floral motifs and borders for the Gobelins and Beauvais tapestry works. In 1678 the Duke of Montagu, British Ambassador to Louis XIV, persuaded Monnoyer to accompany him to England, where he won immediate acclaim, painting flowerpieces and still lifes to adorn the homes of the aristocracy. His works decorated Boughton, Montagu House (now the site of the British Museum), Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court; his patrons included Queen Anne, Mary II, the Duke of St. Albans and the Earl of Carlisle. These suites are very rare, with most extant sets broken and colored for the print market. A similar bound collection, containing 25 engravings from four different suites, is located in the Rijks Museum (object number RP-P-2011-65).

Dunthorne 212; cf. Nissen BBI 1399; cf. Paviere, Jean Baptiste Monnoyer (Leigh-on-Sea, 1966).

Item #25192

Price: $18,500.00