Description: GARDEN FRONT OF THE LUXEMBOURG - PARIS Artist: T. Allom ____________ Engraver: E. Raddclyffe Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving AN ANTIQUE STEEL ENGRAVING MADE IN THE 1860s !! ITEM IS OVER 130 YEARS OLD! VERY OLD WORLD! INCREDIBLE DETAIL! The Luxembourg Palace in Paris, the first great example of French classical architecture during the 17th century, was the culmination of the long tradition of the chateau as a building type. It was commissioned in 1615 by Marie de Médicis, regent of France, for a site on the Left Bank then occupied by the Hôtel du Luxembourg, from which the name was derived. The regent favored an Italianate structure modeled after Palazzo Pitti in her native Florence, but the architect Salomon de Brosse followed a typically French layout of wings surrounding a court, with the chief living quarters and chapel facing the garden. The west wing was the original site of the paintings (1622-25; Louvre, Paris) by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the regent's life. During the 19th century the palace was extensively remodeled: the garden facade was added (1836-41) by Alphonse de Gisors, and a cycle of paintings (1845-47) by Eugène Delacroix was added to the library. The building was a prison during the Revolution, used for the peace conference of 1946, and now houses the French Senate. FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: The present Palace of the Luxembourg was built by Marie de Medicis, about 250 years ago, after the model of the Palace de Pitti at Florence, the usual residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. It is remarkable for the beauty of its proportions, and the solidity and strength with which it is built but if anything could indicate the inconstant character of the French mind, it would be the number of names which this unfortunate building has borne during its comparatively brief existence. Windsor Castle has still been known as such, whatever may have been the changes in the dynasties that have filled the English throne, and St. Jameses and Konsington Palaces would retain their appellations whatever might be the vicissitudes of British sovereigns, but the Luxembourg has been "everything by turns, and nothing long." It has been the Palms d'Orleans, the Palais du Directoire, the Palais du Consulate the Palais du Senat Conservateur, the Palais de la Chamber des Pairs, and in the revolutionary period was a prison, and suffered every sort of degradation. Other buildings have had their cognoimnal changes in Paris, but this palace has been known by more aliases than any other of which we are aware. The gardens attached to it are very line, and much frequented. The interior is sumptuous, and richly ornamented with works of art in painting and sculpture. Its museum is set aside for the productions of living artists, which are here kept for ten years after the death of the artists themselves, when they are taken to the Louvre, where they become a part of the national collection. Such is one of the useful objects to which it is now devoted: but we must not forget that it was within the walls of this palace that the first Napoleon and Josephine passed the happiest days of their married life. Then, however, lie had neither become a consul, an emperor, nor a military despot; neither had she yet dreamt of the separation which was to deprive her of a husband, banish her from a throne, and place a daughter of the House of Hapsburg in the position from which her cruel destiny was to force her. In the boudoir of Marie de Medicis, which our illustration represents, we can easily realize the costliness with which some of its chambers were arranged and adorned. The furniture and the architecture are of the 16th century, but the panels of the ceiling and the walls are covered with fine paintings, executed during the occupancy of the Duchess de Montpensier. They are by Philip de Champagne and Nicholas Poussin; but the grand design in the centre of the ceiling is by Rubens. Connected with these paintings there is an eventful history. During the degradation of the Luxembourg, in the Reign of Terror, some members of the government removed them from their gilded frames, and had them carried to the Louvre, where they lay concealed till more peaceful times, when they were restored to their present, which was their former position. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Thomas Allom (1804-1872) was born in London, England on 13th March 1804. He was articled to Francis Goodwin, an architect in 1819. He was to become a founder member of the R.I.B.A. (Royal Institute of British Architects - which is still the premier institution today). He is best know for his topographical drawings, so many of which were engraved on steel & appeared in many of the travel books of the time. He travelled extensively, not just in the UK & Europe, but further afield, covering such countries as Turkey & China. Collections of his work can be found in the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. SIZE: Image size is 5 inches by 7 inches. Print size is 9 1/2 inches by 12 1/2 inches including white borders. CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. SHIPPING: Buyers to pay shipping/handling, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail. Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, print, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard frontis, usually on much thicker quality rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone prints. EXTREMELY RARE IN THIS EXCELLENT CONDITION!
Price: 11.99 USD
Location: New Providence, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-10-03T13:17:14.000Z
Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Material: Engraving
Date of Creation: 1800-1899
Subject: Architecture
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Type: Print