Ornemens Inventez par J. Berain

RA Collection: Book

Record number

03/2482

Variant Title

Desseins de Cheminées

Imprint

Et se vendent chez Monsieur Thuret Aux Galleries du Louvre Avec Privilege du Roy., [c. 1709]

Physical Description

[112] leaves carrying [121] pl. (incl. 2 t.-pl.); 380×497 mm.

Responsibility Note

Many plates are signed as designed and drawn by Berain. Each set has plates signed by more than one engraver (though sets 4, 6, 8 are signed by Scotin only). The engravers are: I. Dolivart, M. Daigremont, Ia. le Pautre, G.I.B. Scotin l'ainé, P. Giffart, I.L. Bojan, I.F. Benard, J. Mariette.

The Desseins de Cheminées is dedicated by Berain to Jules Hardouin Mansard.

References

National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard I (1993), 18, 19; J. de La Gorse, Berain: dessinateur du roi soleil (1986); R.-A. Weigert, Jean I Berain: dessinateur de la chambre et du cabinet du roi (1640-1711) (1937).

Summary Note

This is a collection of sets of plates designed by Berain. The first plate is a title-plate, but it is not clear whether this refers only to a set of which it forms part or is a title-plate for the whole collection.

The groups of plates are as follows:

1. Five sheets carrying [7] pl. [showing decorations, candelabra and a dance], unnumbered and unlettered, no. [1] having Thuret's imprint and the title, 'Ornemens Inventez par J Berain'.

2. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] lettered 'G', nos. [2, 5] having Thuret's imprint.

3. [5] pl. [showing chimney-pieces] lettered 'I', [1] having Thuret's imprint and the title, 'Desseins de Cheminées'.

4. [5] pl. [showing chimney-pieces], unnumbered and unlettered, with no publisher's imprint.

5. [5] pl. [showing chimney-pieces] lettered 'H', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

6. [5] pl. [showing chimney-pieces] lettered '8', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

7. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations], unnumbered and unlettered, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

8. Five pl. [showing wrought-iron gates and balustrades] numbered 1-5, nos. 3 and 4 having Thuret's imprint.

9. Five pl. [showing parterres] numbered 1-5, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

10. Five pl. [showing parterres] numbered 1-5, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

11. Five sheets carrying [7] pl. [showing panel decorations and candelabra], nos. [6,7] lettered 'L'.

12. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] lettered 'E', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

13. Five pl. [showing column capitals] numbered 1-5, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

14. Five pl. [showing clocks, vases, ceremonial weaponry and candlesticks] numbered 1-5, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

15. Five pl. [showing girandoles, sideboards and vases] lettered 'A', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

16. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] unnumbered and unlettered, [1] having the author's imprint.

17. Five pl. [showing panel decorations] numbered 1-5, [1] having Thuret's imprint.

18. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] lettered 'F', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

19. Five sheets carrying [7] pl. [showing panel decorations, cornices, a pavilion and candelabra] lettered 'B', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

20. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] lettered 'C', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

21. [5] pl. [showing panel decorations] lettered 'D', [1] having Thuret's imprint.

22. [2] pl., unnumbered and unlettered, the first captioned 'Dessein De La Colation Qui Fut Donné A Monseigneur Par Mos. Le Prince ... Chantilly le 29 Aoust 1688', the second with five numbered captions, the first reading 'Arcade de la Feuillé où le Roy estoit a table'.

23. One plate [showing the interior of a milliner's shop], unnumbered, unlettered, uncaptioned.

24. One sheet carrying [2] pl., unnumbered and unlettered, the first carrying captions A-F, of which 'A' reads 'Le Grand Vizir', and having the imprint of la Veuve de Liany; the second uncaptioned.

25. One sheet carrying [2] pl. [one showing persons with dogs, the other a ceremonial dance], unnumbered, unlettered, uncaptioned.

26. Three plates [showing funeral ceremonies] unnumbered and unlettered, with captions referring to the funeral ceremoniesof Louis Boucherat on 11 December 1699.

The collection shows the range of Berain's work, which had wide influence during the latter part of Louis XIV's reign. He worked in a less grand style than that of Le Pautre; and his complex, light surface designs owe something to Raphael's interpretation of ancient Roman wall-decoration.

Provenance

Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802.

Binding Note

18th-century mottled calf; rebacked in 20th century, red morocco spine-label lettered 'Ornemens Inuentez Par I. Berain'.

Name as Subject

Subject

Ornaments - Grotesques - Interior decoration - Decorative arts - France - History - 17th century
Designs - Pattern books - France - 17th century
Pictorial works - France - 17th century

Contributors

Jean Berain I, source artist, draughtsman
Jacques Thuret, bookseller
Jean Dolivar, engraver
Marguerin Daigremont, engraver
Gérard Jean Baptiste Scotin l'ainé, engraver
I. L. Bojan, engraver
Jacques François Bénard, engraver
Jean Mariette, engraver
Louis Boucherat
Jules Hardouin Mansart, dedicatee

Images from this book

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