COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Chastillon, Claude de
Author:
Merian, Matthaus
Date:
1612
Short Title:
Carosel fait a la Place Royalle a Paris le V. VI. VII. avril M.DC.XII.
Publisher:
Merian
Publisher Location:
Paris
Type:
View
Obj Height cm:
39
Obj Width cm:
50
City:
Paris (France)
Full Title:
Carosel fait a la Place Royalle a Paris le V. VI. VII. avril M.DC.XII.
List No:
10880.000
Publication Author:
Chastillon, Claude de
Publication Author:
Merian, Matthaus
Pub Date:
1612
Pub Title:
Carosel fait a la Place Royalle a Paris le V. VI. VII. avril M.DC.XII.
Pub Reference:
Weigert, Inventaire dufonds francais, graveurs du XVII siecle, 1951, p. 358; Festivities. Ceremonies and celebrations in western Europe 1500-1790. An exhibition by the Department of Art Brown Unwersity, 1979, p. 15; Pastoureau, CHATILLON Ac, 469, for the second printing.
Pub Note:
"Magnificent representation of the great carousel which inaugurated the Place Royale, today Place des Vosges, from April 5 to 7, 1612, on the occasion of the celebration of the engagement of Louis XIII with the Infanta Anne of Austria. It was drawn by Claude de Chastillon, then modified and engraved by Matthaus Merian, whose monogram appears at the bottom of the plate. The organization of the festivities was entrusted to Antoine de Pluvinel, Grand Ecuyer du Roy (first equire of the king). During this luxurious equestrian parade of ltalian origin, which became in vogue in France during the reign of Charles VIII, the riders, sumptuously equipped, performed figures in music. At the initiative of King Henri IV, the plans for the square were placed in charge of Jacques Androuet du Cerceau and Claude de Chastillon. The works began in 1605 and were completed in 1612, and the place was inaugurated on the occasion of this engagement. Claude de Chastillon, who had received a plot of land on the place from the king, had his own hotel built there at n°10. On the engraving, he shows the place finished with the east side in the foreground, where his house appears. The Place Royale is the oldest monumental square in Paris. It will be named Place des Vosges in 1800, in honor of the department of the same name, which was the first to pay its taxes under the French Revolution. This print was engraved by Merian after an engraving by Chastillon, whose title is Dessein des pompes et magnificences du Carousel faict en la Place Royalle a Paris, !e V. VI. VII., d'apvril 1612, and which comes with a text giving the explanation of the letters and numbers on the print, entitled Description succinte de la place royale, and bearing the address of Gabriel Tavernier. Merian did not only change the title of Chastillon's engraving and add his monogram, he also modified a few buildings, in particular the Palais de la Felicite, on the right of the square, and a few characters. There is a second printing of the version of Merian, bearing at the end of the title the mention "fol. 361 ". This second printing comes from the work by Vulson de La Colombiere, Le Vray Theatre d'honneur et de chevalerie, published in Paris in 1648 (the print is inserted between pages 360 and 361 ). Without underestimating the qualities of Chastillon's drawing, the adjustments made by Merian make the whole thing clearer and more alive, and attest to his undeniable talents as an engraver. Draftsman, architect, engineer and topographer of King Henri IV, then of Louis XIII, Claude de Chastillon executed many plans, drawings and surveys. Nearly 600 views of castles, towns and ancient monuments, many of which have disappeared today, were gathered and published after his death by Jean Boisseau in 1641, in the collection entitled Topographie Francoise. This collection contains the second printing of this plate. Printing of a very good quality. Margins cut, with 2 to 3 mm missing on the left and the right of the engraved part." (Begonia Le Bail, 2021)
Pub List No:
10880.000
Pub Type:
View
Pub Height cm:
39
Pub Width cm:
50
Image No:
10880000.jp2
Authors:
Chastillon, Claude de; Merian, Matthaus
Link To Source
Carosel fait a la Place Royalle a Paris le V. VI. VII. avril M.DC.XII.
