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an image of a painting of a man holding a booktwo books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacean old book with a picture of a man on itan open book with a picture of a castle on itan old book with a drawing of a man carrying a cross
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1618 - PAPILLON (Jean-Michel). A Historical and Practical Treatise …
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Estimate €1,200 - €1,500
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Description
PAPILLON (Jean-Michel). A Historical and Practical Treatise on Wood Engraving. Paris, Pierre-Guillaume Simon, 1766. 3 parts in 2 large 8vo volumes: xxxii, 540 pp.; xv, (1), 388 pp.; (4), 124 pp. Black half-calf, spine richly decorated with raised bands, title label and volume number in red and green morocco, place and date at the tail, gilt fillet, gilt head (binding from the second half of the 19th century). Frontispiece portrait, title vignette, 2 colour plates, including a plate showing the decomposition of colours. Numerous headbands, tailpieces and initials by Papillon. First edition of this beautifully illustrated practical and historical manual on the art of wood engraving by Jean Michel Papillon (1698–1776). Papillon enjoyed great success as a wood engraver. His workshop welcomed numerous noble pupils, a sign of the enthusiasm for wood engraving at that time. Several members of Parisian high society (including the Counts of Breteuil, De Forbin, La Barden, Lalive de Jully, the Marquises of Montmirail, De Chamont and De Rouvre, the Duke of Chevreuse, the Duchess of Luynes, Princess Rohan-Rochefort, etc.) followed Madame de Pompadour’s example by trying their hand at this art. Descended from an illustrious line of artists from Rouen (he is sometimes confused with his half-brother Jean-Baptiste-Michel (1720–1746), whom he mentions in the book), Jean-Michel Papillon learnt the craft of wood engraving from his father, Jean II Papillon, and remained attached to the Royal Printing Office for many years. He produced countless wood-engraved vignettes and illustrations for booksellers and publishers. Papillon’s writings, aimed at restoring the reputation of wood engraving, are limited to this valuable manual, the fruit of his long personal experience and featuring the finest examples of his engraved work, including rare and beautiful chiaroscuro engravings, not to mention several articles in Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie. Ex-libris J.M. Ex-libris Jean Morel.
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 3 of 4 – Nos. 1085 to 1642
Auction location
Auction time 08/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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