Hand Colored Engraving of Woman at the Court of King Henry IV of France, 1900

Antique print titled 'MARIE STUART ' Original antique print of Marie Stuart, Wife of King Francis II of France . Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland, Mary was six days old when her father died and she acceded to the throne. During her childhood, Scotland was governed by regents, first by the heir to the throne, James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and then by her mother, Mary of Guise. In 1548, she was betrothed to Francis, the Dauphin of France, and was sent to be brought up in France, where she would be safe from invading English forces during the Rough Wooing. Mary married Francis in 1558, becoming queen consort of France from his accession in 1559 until his death in December 1560. Widowed, Mary returned to Scotland in August 1561. Following the Scottish Reformation, the tense religious and political climate that Mary encountered on her return to Scotland was further agitated by prominent Scots such as John Knox, who openly questioned whether her subjects had a duty to obey her. The early years of her personal rule were marked by pragmatism, tolerance, and moderation. She issued a proclamation accepting the religious settlement in Scotland as she had found it upon her return, retained advisers such as James Stewart, Earl of Moray, and William Maitland...

Antique print titled 'ELISABETH' Original antique print of Elisabeth, daughter of Henry II of France. Elisabeth of France or Elisabeth of Valois (2 April 1545 – 3 October 1568) was Queen of Spain as the third spouse of Philip II of Spain...

Antique costume print titled 'Henry IV Roy de France 1595'. This print depicts Henry IV, also known by the epithet Good King Henry or Henry the Great. He was King of Navarre...

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 'MARGUERITE DE FRANCE' Original antique print of Margaret of Valois a French Princess. Margaret of Valois (French: Marguerite, 14 May 1553 – 27 March 1615) was a French princess of the Valois dynasty who became Queen of Navarre by marriage to Henry III of Navarre, then also Queen of France at her husband's 1589 accession to the latter throne as Henry IV. Margaret was the daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici and the sister of kings Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. Her union with the king of Navarre...

Antique print titled 'MADEMOISELLE DE LIMEUIL' Original antique print of Isabelle de Limeuil, a French Noblewoman . Isabelle de la Tour, Lady of Limeuil (c. 1535 – 25 March 1609) ...

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...

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...

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...

John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) - 'the upper Goulburn, Victoria' - antique steel plate engraving after a painting by J. S. Prout - from 'Australia' by Edwin Carton Booth - hand colore...

JOHN SKINNER PROUT (1805-1876) - 'Diggers on the Road to a Rush' - Antique steel plate engraving after a painting by J. S. Prout - from 'Australia' by Edwin Carton Booth - hand color...

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...