Nicolas Guérard I (c1648–1719)
“Après la Guerre la Paix” (aka “Almanach de Vilage”), 1700 (dating based on Duplessis’
catalogue, but note that the publisher was not at the inscribed address until
1715), showing a roulette with a globe at centre, surrounded by female
personifications of Peace, Abundance (Abundantia), Pride (Superbia), War,
Poverty and Humility, published (and engraved) by Nicolas Guérard in Paris.
Engraving on laid paper trimmed along the
platemark and backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 28.2 x 18.8 cm.
Lettered on the framing edge: (upper edge) “APRES
LA GUERRE LA PAIX”; (right edge) “APRES L'ADVERSITÉ LA PROSPERITÉ”; (lower
edge) “APRES LA PAIX LA GUERRE”; (left edge) “APRES LA PROSPERITÉ L'ADVERSITÉ”.
Inscribed within and below the framing edge are
lines of French text beginning at the upper centre: “Pour vivre en paix et sans
tristesse/ L'Homme fut mis au plus beau des Jardins/ Ainsi la paix fut la
premier hotesse/ D'Adam le premier des humains/ Mais it pecha se trop crédule
père/ Et son peche causa ses maux et nos miseres." ([Google transl.]
To live in peace and without sadness/ Man was put in the most
beautiful of Gardens/ Thus peace was the first hostess/ Of Adam the first of
humans/ But he sinned too credulous father/ And his sin caused his ills our miseries.)
Publication details and title inscribed along the
lower framing edge: “á Paris Chez Nicolas Guerard Graveur, rue (ALMANACH DE
VILAGE) Saint Jacque proche S.t Yve, à la Reine du Clergé.”
Documentary information about this print is
offered by the National Library of France, Prints and Photography Department (BnF
Gallica): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8407504m.item
Hennin/Duplessis 6634 (M. Georges Duplessis 1882, “Inventaire
de la collection d'estampes relatives à l'histoire de France léguée en 1863 à
la Bibliothèque nationale par M. Michel Hennin,” vol. 2, Paris, H. Champion, p.
370, cat. no. 6634); IFF 50.
Condition: richly inked and well-printed impression
trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a support sheet of archival
(millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with
no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.
I am selling this spectacular engraving showing a wheel
of fortune representing a calendar of change taking a community from war to
peace and back again as well as from prosperity to adversity and back again overseen
by personifications of Peace, Abundance Pride, War, Poverty and Humility, for
the total cost of AU$271 (currently US$199.68/EUR167.67/GBP149.54 at the time
of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere
in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.
If you are interested in purchasing this fascinating
insight into an 18th century perception of cyclical changes to fortune
and misfortune, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will
send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.
This print has been sold
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