Paris – Mondhare, Louis-Joseph. (1734 – 1799).

1er Vue des Boulvard pris de la Porte St Antoine on averty le Public que cette Vuë est graveé pour estre vuë au naturet dans l’Optique.

Original hand-coloured copper engraved vue d’optique. Paris, Mondhare, [c.1750-1780]. Plate Size: 38.7 cm x 23.2 cm. Sheet Size: 44.7 cm x 28. 6 cm Original print. In very good, actually remarkable, condition. Clean and crisp and radiant impression, with only the faintest trace of browning. Some very minor traces of light staining to outer margin corner.

A wonderful vue d’optique from 18th Century France.
A beautiful, original hand-coloured copperplate engraving that shows a view the Porte Saint-Antoine which was one of the gates of Paris. The Porte of Sainte Antoine was located, and protected, by the Bastille. This engraving captures a more peaceable atmosphere of Parisian life around that notorious landmark: finely-dressed people and family groups are shown out strolling along the tree-lined broad boulevard and, off to the side, along the more sheltered promenade. It is a busy scene: In the foreground, under the shade of a tree a religious beggar seeks alms; nearby an unbusy street vendor is shown with a table of offered refreshments; a dog is shown possibly bounding after one of the wheels of the passing horse-drawn carriages in a time-honoured dangerous tradition; off to the side, a crowd of spectators view ball games.

Louis-Joseph Mondhare (1734 – 1799) was a Paris print engraver, publisher and print dealer. Originally from Normandy, Mondhare began publishing in Paris around 1760 and started to print prints bearing the address of the hotel de Saumur, rue Saint-Jacques. From 1784 he established a partnership for 12 years with his son-in-law Pierre Jean. (Wikipedia)
From about 1740 to about 1820 optical prints, also called “vue optique” or “vue d’optique” prints were made to be viewed through a Zograscope, or other devices of convex lens and mirror, all of which produced optical illusion of depth. Intaglio optical prints have exaggerated converging lines and bright hand-colours which contribute to the illusion of depth. Typically the legends of optical prints have reversed words along the top edge as those would be seen though the scope, but words on the bottom of the prints are normal. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: 18th Century · Catalogue Four – International Art · Decorative Art · Decorative Original Graphic · France · French History Rare · Original Decorative Art Rare · Original Engraving · Paris · Travel France – Rare · Vintage · Vue d’optique
• Inventory Number: 200061AG

EUR 250,--