Lot 275: A SET OF FOUR FRENCH HANDCOLOURED AND EMBROIDERED 'GRAVURES DE MODE'

A SET OF FOUR FRENCH HANDCOLOURED AND EMBROIDERED 'GRAVURES DE MODE'
ONE BY HENRY BONNART, LAST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY, AND THREE BY ANTOINE TROUVAIN (1656-1707), LATE 17TH CENTURY
Depicting Monseigneur le Duc de Berry, Madame de Maintenon, Le Capitaine Jean Baert de Dunquerque and Madame la Duchesse de Valentinois, the first three embellished with material, embroidery and fur, in later moulded giltwood frames
13¾ x 10 in. (35 x 25.5 cm.) and similar, including frames (4)

The Collection of M. Henry Clarke, sold Christie's Monaco, 20 June 1998, lot 21.

The first images of 'fashion' appear to have been in the form of engravings in the second half of the 17th century in France, which depicted well-known figures dressed in the costumes of the day. This was apparently invented by the Bonnart family of the rue St. Jacques, four brothers - Nicolas, Henry, Robert and Jean-Baptiste - who were engravers, publishers and marchands. Their engravings were often embellished with gold and silver threads, colours and materials; and were very popular at the time. They were imitated by Jean Mariette, examples of whose work are conserved at the Musée Carnavalet, Paris, and Antoine Trouvain.