Pair of 17th-Century French Baroque Architectural Engravings by Jean Le Pautre (1618–1682) – Beacon Hill Gallery Framed

Details

Description

Introduce instant architectural gravitas and old-world intellectual rhythm to your space with this spectacular, authenticated pair of original French Baroque … Read more Introduce instant architectural gravitas and old-world intellectual rhythm to your space with this spectacular, authenticated pair of original French Baroque copperplate architectural engravings by the legendary master designer and printmaker Jean Le Pautre (1618–1682). As a chief official designer to King Louis XIV, Le Pautre’s theatrical, intricately layered style defined the visual opulence of the French Golden Age and laid the aesthetic groundwork for the grand interiors of Versailles.

The Historical Impression & Platemarks
This magnificent pair showcases two foundational compositions pulled from Le Pautre's master suites. The sheets present beautiful physical evidence of traditional printmaking antiquity:
• Plate 35 (The Classical Ceiling Vault): An expansive, allegorical ceiling vault floating with winged classical figures, dynamic putti, and heavy laurel garlands housed inside an ornate architectural frame. Bearing the corner state-markings "Nº 35" and index "1", this physical sheet was struck circa 1751 from the original copper plate at the famous Paris workshop of Charles-Antoine Jombert on the historic Rue Dauphine, acting as an official Bookseller to the King’s Artillery.
• The Grotesque Garland Urn: A symmetrical, high-drama study featuring two classical female figures draping heavy fruit garlands across a central gadrooned urn, anchored by an intense green-man foliage mask at the baseline. This sheet carries the earlier circa 1660–1680 lifetime imprint of the preeminent print seller of Paris's Golden Age, Pierre Mariette (P. Mariette ex.).

The Antiquarian Forensics
These are true period antique graphic works, not modern digital reproductions. Close examination under glass reveals pristine antiquarian fingerprints: the deep, indented rectangular plate marks where the heavy edges of the hand-carved copper metal plates bit into the damp sheets under the immense pressure of a wooden rolling press, and the beautiful, ribbed chain lines of handmade laid paper formed from liquid linen rag pulp on historic wire screens.

Elite Design Pedigree & Presentation
Custom-crafted for the prestigious Beacon Hill Showroom, the custom presentation on this pair is unmatched and carries immediate trade pedigree. They are professionally housed in substantial, heavy ebonized black hardwood gallery frames accented with fine gold-leaf rope-twist fillets. The artwork is set within multi-tiered custom mats featuring an intentional terracotta inner border wrap that pulls out the warmth of the centuries-old linen paper. The reverse side retains original corporate inventory tags from the showroom collection. A ready-to-hang focal installation built to anchor a luxury library, formal dining room, or executive office gallery wall.

Specifications
• Artist: Jean Le Pautre (French, 1618–1682)
• Publishers: Pierre Mariette II (c. 1660–1680) & Charles-Antoine Jombert (c. 1751)
• Medium: Original Copperplate Engravings on Handmade Laid Paper
• Total Frame Size: 27" W x 23" H x 1.5" D (Each)
• Artwork Sight Size: Approx. 12" W x 8.5" H
• Quantity: Uniform Matched Pair of Two (2)

Condition Report
Excellent vintage gallery presentation. The antique paper matrices show a beautiful, natural warm cream age-toning with exceptionally dark, crisp, and velvety ink line contrast. Frames are structurally sound and heavily constructed, displaying minor, expected vintage surface rubbing and light scuffing to the ebonized wood borders consistent with high-end designer showroom display and handling, adding marvelous authentic antique character to the presentation. Not examined outside of frames.

Le Pautre Print | French Baroque | 17th Century Art | Beacon Hill Frame | Laid Paper Print | Architectural Art | Versailles Style See less