L'Histoire, guidée par son Génie, et à l’aide des Monumens Historiques que divers petits Génies arrachent qu Tems qui les devore, rassemble en un Corps les Envénemens les plus remarquables que regardent l’Angleterre La Ville de Londres, Capitale de ce Roiaume, paroit dans l’Enfoncement; et au Haut, la Renommée tient le Portrait du celebre Auteur de cette Histoire.
[Rotterdam]: [Chez Reinier Leers,], [1713]. 225 x 365 mm. A near fine copy, light toning, a few minor edge tears well away from image (hinged at top in mat). Item #37581
Hand-colored copper engraving signed: "Inventé et dessiné par B. Picart, 1713. Gravé par vander Gouwen." Bernard Picart (1673-1733) was a well regarded engraver, initially taught by his father and later by Le Brun and Jouvenet. Successful by the time he was sixteen, he later moved to Amsterdam where he was much sought after by printers for plates and ornamental engravings, especially on religious and mythological themes in addition to portraits, much of which can be seen in this print taken from the French historian Isaac de Larrey's "Histoire d'Angleterre" (Rotterdam, 1713). De Larrey's portrait is at the upper left in an oval carried by Fame, who is playing a trumpet. In the background is London, to the left England (in the image of a Queen sitting with a Lion), and with the history being transcribed by History and a winged figure; at the lower left, Time trying to eat the pages of a book while winged figures are wrestling them away.
Price: $400.00