LE SACRE DE LOUIS XV, Roy de France et de Navarre, dans l’église de Reims, le 25 octobre 1722.
[Paris, 1722]
First edition of this magnificent, fully engraved book of feasts. The edition was printed at the king's expense, who reserved all the copies for himself, to give to those he wished to honor. The text, written by Danchet, is decorated with rich borders, cartouches, and decorations engraved by d'Ulin. The impressive iconographic apparatus includes, in addition to the plates, eight large vignettes as headlines.
Morgand: «Ce livre est une éclatante manifestation de l'art du xviiie siècle et celui qu'il faut ouvrir si l'on veut se rendre compte de l'apparat et de la grandeur d'une cérémonie telle que le sacre d'un roi».
Cohen-Ricci: “Magnifique volume. Le texte, rédigé par Danchet, est orné de riches encadrement, de cartouches et fleuron gravé par d'Ulin” Vinet: “Neuf grandes planches brillamment exécutées, et riches de détails, rendent sans doute avec fidélité tous les détails de ces cérémonies compliquées”.
Debure, n° 5452; Berlin Kat., n° 3009; Brunet, V, 19; Cohen, 916-17; Vinet, n° 516; Ruggieri, n° 546; Hiler, 216; Bulletin Morgand, 1884, n° 9546.
Large Folio. 630x480 mm. Contemporary red Morocco armorial binding, gilt frame with lily’s chain with large lilies at the corners, king’s coat of arms in the center, decorated spine, inner dentelles, gilt edges. Fully engraved work: Title page, 34 text leaves including che Illustrations Index on double page and the list of the artist, on single page, who engraved the plates. 9 plates engraved on double page by Audran, Beauvais, Cochin père, Desplaces, Duchange, Dupuis, Larmessin, Tardieu, Edelinck, Chereau, Drevet, Haussard and Petit, and 30 plates on single page depicting ceremonial clothes of king and others crown officers, mostly made by drawings of Pierre Dulin and Pierre-Josse Perrot. Slight defects on binding, occasional foxing. Splendid specimen in red Morocco binding with Louis XV coat of arms.