Details
PARIS 1739 -- Description des festes données par la ville de Paris, A l'occasion du Mariage de Madame Louise-Elisabeth de France, & de Dom Philippe, Infant & Grand Amiral d'Espagne, les vingt-neuviéme & trentiéme Août mil sept cent trent-neuf. Paris: P.G. Le Mercier, 1740.
2o (623 x 465 mm). Engraved vignette on title-page, engraved headpiece, and 14 engraved plates (8 double-page) by JACQUES RIGAUD, P. SOUBEYRAN, and JACQUES FRANçOIS BLONDEL after EDMOND BOUCHARDON, Blondel, and Rigaud. Contemporary calf gilt, fleur-de-lys roll border, with fleur-de-lys cornerpieces, arms of the city of Paris on covers, spine gilt (worn, joints cracked, spine perishing).
The city of Paris celebrated the marriage of MARIE-LOUISE-ÉLISABETH (1727-1759) of France to PHILIP DE BOURBON (1720-1765), Infante of Spain, on 29 and 30 August 1739. These festivities, likely the most spectacular of the 18th century, were held before the young Dauphine left France to be officially married to Philip in Spain. A large number of architects and craftsmen, led by Jean-Nicolas Servan, designed and built the decorations. "The illustrations show the entire spectacle on the Seine between the Pont-Neuf and the Pont Royal as follows: the structure for the fireworks on the Pont-Neuf and the new terrace; the octagon 'island' for the musicians designed by Jean-Jerome Servandoni in the centre of the Seine; the eight marine 'monsters' surrounding the island; a plan of the superstructures built along the banks of the Seine to accommodate the viewers; and the Throne Loge in the form of a baldocchino attached to the Louvre, in which the royal couple could view the spectacle. In addition, the water jousting and floating illuminations and the ball given at the Hôtel de Ville for the couple are described" (Millard). This copy also includes two additional plates showing views of the edifice built for shooting off the fireworks at the center of the Pont Neuf (Drugulin 4265 and 4266). Berlin 3012; Cicognara 1507; Cohen-De Ricci 288; Millard French 26; Vinet 519; Watanabe 2078.
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The city of Paris celebrated the marriage of MARIE-LOUISE-ÉLISABETH (1727-1759) of France to PHILIP DE BOURBON (1720-1765), Infante of Spain, on 29 and 30 August 1739. These festivities, likely the most spectacular of the 18th century, were held before the young Dauphine left France to be officially married to Philip in Spain. A large number of architects and craftsmen, led by Jean-Nicolas Servan, designed and built the decorations. "The illustrations show the entire spectacle on the Seine between the Pont-Neuf and the Pont Royal as follows: the structure for the fireworks on the Pont-Neuf and the new terrace; the octagon 'island' for the musicians designed by Jean-Jerome Servandoni in the centre of the Seine; the eight marine 'monsters' surrounding the island; a plan of the superstructures built along the banks of the Seine to accommodate the viewers; and the Throne Loge in the form of a baldocchino attached to the Louvre, in which the royal couple could view the spectacle. In addition, the water jousting and floating illuminations and the ball given at the Hôtel de Ville for the couple are described" (Millard). This copy also includes two additional plates showing views of the edifice built for shooting off the fireworks at the center of the Pont Neuf (Drugulin 4265 and 4266). Berlin 3012; Cicognara 1507; Cohen-De Ricci 288; Millard French 26; Vinet 519; Watanabe 2078.