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an old book with a drawing of a man on a horse and a man on a horsea black and white drawing of a circle with people and animals in it
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1685 - Hippology – Circus
See original version (German)

Estimate €1,400 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
Hippology – Circus Mahyeu, Peter Various equestrian arts, as demonstrated by Monsieur Peter Mahysen, a privileged instructor of His Imperial and Royal Majesty, as well as of His Royal Majesty of Spain, depicted according to the true originals. With a title woodcut and 31 woodcuts, including 3 folded woodcuts. No place, no date (probably c. 1780/1790). Modern paper binding with paste paper. Only two copies in libraries worldwide: OCLC 177764841. (Princeton Library, Special Collections, 11205 Euro 18). (35 plates) Another edition – ÖBB, Vienna (MF 5821) 1795 edition with a different title page. (34 plates) – Last seen at an auction in 2010 with 30 plates. (ZS 56, 2200). – Extremely rare; presumably published in instalments; no copy has come to our attention on the international market; no copy has appeared at auction in the last 15 years. - Peter Mahyeu (also Peter Mahysen) was a distinguished voltigeur and riding master of the late 18th century, born in Liège and originally employed as a piqueur at the Royal Spanish Riding School. He mastered the art of vaulting and juggling on horseback and founded his own troupe of riders. From around 1773, he performed to great acclaim in Vienna and had a significant influence on the spectacle of modern circus-style equestrian art within the context of the Winter Riding School and the Hetz Theatre. His performances at the Viennese court and his dedication of an illustrated programme book to Emperor Leopold II attest to his fame and esteem. Mahyeu is regarded as a pioneer in the development of European vaulting and trained legendary riders such as Brilloff, Christoph de Bach and Johann Hinné, who later became stars of the ring themselves. His career is documented by repeated engagements in Vienna right up to the 1790s, and he stands as an outstanding figure in the history of the circus and equestrian acrobatics. This series of images is one of the rare contemporary records of late Baroque equestrian art and vaulting in the German-speaking world. Peter Mahyeu, a native of Liège, began his career as a piqueur at the Spanish court, where he learnt the art of vaulting and equestrian artistry before performing as a ‘privileged riding master’ – a title conferred upon him by both the imperial-royal and Spanish royal courts, which secured him exclusive performance rights. Mahyeu led his own troupe of riders and performed repeatedly in Vienna, including in 1786 and 1789/1790, where he performed alongside the famous Viennese equestrian societies (including Chiarini) and, according to theatre programmes held at the Vienna Library, demonstrated ‘equestrian and other gymnastic feats’. His success was reflected in an illustrated work dedicated to Emperor Leopold II, which documented his artistic feats in some 32 illustrations – a number that corresponds exactly to the present series comprising the title woodcut plus 31 text woodcuts. Mahyeu also made guest appearances in Frankfurt and other imperial cities during the 1780s and 1790s, and trained renowned equestrian artists such as Brilloff, Christoph de Bach and Johann Hinné, who later went on to work as circus directors in Europe themselves. - The plates depict artistic leaps onto and off the horse (e.g. ‘Grand Saut de la Table’), juggling exercises and balancing acts performed on a galloping horse, group feats involving several riders and horses, and combinations of gymnastic acrobatics and dressage displays. Scenic moments in which riders and horses are staged as dramatic figures, contrasts between individual feats and the art of formation work by various riders – Partially trimmed close to the right-hand margin; title slightly discoloured. A few plates with faint pencil annotations in Sütterlin script along the lower margin; otherwise the plate is clean. A fine copy. With title woodcut and 31 woodcuts, including 3 folded woodcuts. Only two copies known in libraries worldwide, OCLC 177764841. (Princeton Library, Special Collections, 11205 Euro 18). (35 plates) Another edition – ÖNB, Vienna (MF 5821), 1795 edition with a different title page. (34 plates) – Most recently at auction in 2010 with 30 plates (ZS 56, 2200). - Extremely rare; apparently published in instalments (Lieferungen); no copy has been traceable to us on the international market, and no copy has appeared at auction in the last 15 years. Peter Mahyeu (also Peter Mahysen) was a respected voltigeur and riding master of the late eighteenth century, born in Liège and originally employed as a piqueur at the Royal Riding School of Spain. He learnt the art of voltige and juggling on horseback and founded his own troupe of riders. From around 1773, he performed with great success in Vienna and had a decisive influence on the spectacle of modern circus equestrianism within the circles of the Winter Riding School and the Hetz Theatre. His appearances at the Viennese court and his dedication of an illustrated programme book to Emperor Leopold II bear witness to his renown and the high regard in which he was held. Mahyeu is regarded as a pioneer in the development of European voltige and trained legendary riders such as Brilloff, Christoph de Bach and Johann Hinné, who later became stars of the ring in their own right. His career is documented through repeated engagements in Vienna into the 1790s, and he stands as an outstanding figure in the history of the circus and equestrian acrobatics. This series of images ranks among the rare contemporary documents of late-Baroque trick riding and voltige in the German-speaking world. Peter Mahyeu, born in Liège, began his career as a piqueur at the Spanish court, where he learnt the art of voltige and trick riding, before appearing as a ‘privileged Bereiter’ (riding master) – a title granted to him by both the Imperial-Royal and the Spanish Royal authorities, which secured him exclusive performance rights. Mahyeu led his own troupe of riders and performed repeatedly in Vienna, including in 1786 and 1789/1790, where he appeared alongside the famous Viennese trick-riding troupes (including, amongst others, Chiarini) and, according to playbills held by the Wienbibliothek, presented “riding and other gymnastic feats”. His success resulted in an illustrated work dedicated to Emperor Leopold II, documenting his artistic feats in around 32 illustrations – a number that corresponds exactly to the present series comprising a title woodcut plus 31 text woodcuts. In the 1780s and 1790s, Mahyeu also performed as a guest in Frankfurt and other imperial cities and trained renowned trick riders such as Brilloff, Christoph de Bach and Johann Hinné, who later went on to become circus directors across Europe. The plates depict skilful leaps onto and off the horse (e.g. the ‘Grand Saut de la Table’), juggling exercises and balancing feats performed on a galloping horse, group feats of strength involving several riders and horses, and combinations of gymnastic acrobatics with dressage displays. There are also scenic moments in which riders and horses are portrayed as dramatic figures, and contrasts between individual feats and the formation artistry of different riders. Partially trimmed close to the right-hand margin; the title leaf is somewhat browned. A few plates bear faint pencil annotations in Sütterlin script along the lower margin; otherwise, the plates are clean. A good copy.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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