Hand Colored Engraving of Isabelle de Limeuil, a French Noblewoman, 1900

Antique print titled 'NINON DE LENCLOS' Original antique print of Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos. Born Anne de l'Enclos in Paris on 10 November 1620,she was nicknamed "Ninon" at an earl...

Antique print titled 'MARIE DE HAUTEFORT' Original antique print of Marie de Hautefort. Marie de Hautefort (1616 – 1691), was a French noble and lady-in-waiting, a trusted confida...

Antique print titled 'MARIE TOUCHET' Original antique print of Marie Touchet, Dame de Belleville. Marie Touchet (1549 – 28 March 1638), Dame de Belleville, was the only mistress of Charles IX of France. Although born to a bourgeois family at Orléans, the daughter of Marie Mathy and a Huguenot lieutenant Jean Touchet, she "held her row at court as well as any of the first class ladies" (Le Laboureur, historian). Her anagrammed name was even Je Charme Tout meaning "I charm all." Henry III, King of Navarre...

Antique print titled 'CHARLOTTE- MARGUERITE DE MONTMORENCI' Original antique print of Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency. Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency (11 May 1594 – 2 Dec...

Antique print titled 'MARION DE LORME' Original antique print of Marion Delorme. Marion Delorme (3 October 1613 – 2 July 1650) was a French courtesan known for her relationships with the important men of her time. She was the daughter of Jean de Lou, sieur de l'Orme, president of the treasurers of France in Champagne, and of Marie Chastelain. She was born in a wealthy family at her father's château near Champaubert. Initiated into the philosophy of physical pleasures by the epicurean and atheist Jacques Vallée, Sieur Des Barreaux, she soon left him for Cinq Mars, at that time at the height of his popularity, and succeeded, it is said, in marrying him in secret. She began hosting a salon, and was introduced into the life of being a courtesan. From this time Marion Delorme's salon became one of the most brilliant centres of elegant Parisian society. After the execution of Cinq Mars she is said to have numbered among her lovers and benefactors Charles de Saint-Évremond (1610-1703) the wit and litterateur, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham...

Antique print titled 'MADAME DE SEVIGNE' Original antique print of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Madame de Sévigné. Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (5 February 1626 – 17 April 1696), also widely known as Madame de Sévigné or Mme de Sévigné, was a French aristocrat, remembered for her letter-writing. Most of her letters, celebrated for their wit and vividness, were addressed to her daughter, Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné. She is revered in France as one of the great icons of French 17th-century literature. Marie de Rabutin-Chantal was born in the fashionable Place des Vosges (then called the Place Royale), Paris, to an old and distinguished family from Burgundy. Her father, Celse Bénigne de Rabutin, baron de Chantal, was the son of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, a friend and disciple of Saint Francis de Sales...

Pair of hand colored engravings by Jacques Grasset de Sainte-Sauveur, 1797 Paris publication, 'Costumes de Different Pays', (Costumes of Different Countries). This pair depicting two...

Early 17th century, French hand colored equestrian engraving. After Antoine de Pluvinel (French, 1552-1620), "Henry IV, Mounted", figure 42 from "L'Instruction du Roy en l'Exercice de Monter a Cheval", c. 1625, matted and framed under UF-3 plexiglass (blocks approx. 97% of UV) , gallery label verso. Figures from this publication have sold at Christie's. Those were not hand colored. A highly detailed engraving with the French King Henry 1V the central figure. Mounted on horseback, Le Roy (the King) is watched by no less than 10 courtiers some of whom are mounted on horseback, all of which are named in the engraving. Antoine de Pluvinel (1552, Crest, Dauphine - 24 August 1620) was the first of the French riding masters, and has had great influence on modern dressage. He wrote L’Instruction du Roy en L'exercice de Monter à Cheval ("instruction of the King in the art of riding"), was tutor to King Louis XIII, and is credited with the invention of using two pillars, as well as using shoulder-in to increase suppleness. In 1594, Pluvinel founded the "Academie d'Equitation" near what is now Place des Pyramides. There, the French nobility was trained not only in horsemanship, but also in all the accomplishments (dancing, fashionable dressing, etc.) It can be said that Pluvinel's influence on the aristocracy lasted from the late 16th century to the 17th century. Richelieu, the future Prime Minister of King Louis XIII attended the Academie; so did William, Duke of Cavendish. Pluvinel's book was published posthumously by the Flemish engraver Crispijn van de Passe II and the royal valet de chambre...

A beautiful French engraving of the "Institute de France" by Blondel. More buildings available !

Pair of depicting 'Homme and Femme de la Frise' or 'Frisian Man and Woman', people of the Frisian Islands off the coast of the Netherlands. The first showing the man in a wonderful n...

Three color limited edition engraving prints in vivid shades of blue, coral, olive green and beige all depicting Le Grand Canal Venezia, Italy or Venice, Italy. These wonderful c...

Giovanni Ottaviani (1735-1808) Le Logge di Raffaello Hand Colored Engraving "2 joined copper plate engravings with later hand colouring ""Loggie di Raffaelo nel Vaticano"" by Giov...