The palace of Versailles: Le Grand Escalier de Versailles./The Grand Staircase of Chateau Versailles, & the Ambassadors Stairway by Charles Lebrun (1619-90) & Louis de Surugue (1686 - 1762) published 1725  Charles Lebrun, / Charles le Brun (1619-90). French painter and art theorist, the dominant artist of Louis XIV's reign. After training with Vouet he went to Rome in 1642 and worked under Poussin, becoming a convert to the latter's theories of art. He returned to Paris in 1646. From 1661 he became established in the employ of Louis XIV, in 1662 he was raised to the nobility and named Premier Paintre du roi, and in 1663 he was made director of the reorganized Academie, which he turned into a channel for imposing a codified system of orthodoxy in matters of art. His lectures came to be accepted as providing the official standards of artistic correctness and, formulated on the basis of the Classicism of Poussin, gave authority to the view that every aspect of artistic creation can be reduced to teachable rule and precept. In 1698 his small illustrated treatise Methode pour apprendre a dessiner les passions... was posthumously published; in this, again following theories of Poussin, he purported to codify the visual expression of the emotions in painting.

Among the most outstanding of his works for the king were the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre (1663), and the famous Galerie des Glaces (1679-84) and the Great Staircase (1671-78, destroyed in 1752) at Versailles. His importance in the history of French art is twofold: his contributions to the magnificence of the Grand Manner of Louis XIV and his influence in laying the basis of academicism. Many of the leading French artists of the next generation trained in his studio. Lebrun was a fine portraitist and an extremely prolific draughtsman.

Le Grand Escalier du château de Versailles. peint par Van der Meulen et Charles Le Brun Œuvre d'art originale datant du 18e siècle a été réalisée par l'artiste  Louis de Surugue (1686 - 1762)

These are from Le Grand Escalier de Versailles./The Grand Staircase of Chateau Versailles, and the Ambassadors  Stairway ./Le Grand Escalier du Château Versailles, dit Escalier des Ambassadeurs] [Paris, De l'Imprimerie royale., not dated . The  collection of engravings known as the Cabinet du Roi originated with Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), who commissioned engravers to create designs for the King's tapestries and furniture. Colbert set up a workshop and repository called the Chalcography of the Louvre to employ engravers and printers, and to conserve the copperplates produced for the engravings. As early as 1662, engravings were made to record special celebrations given by the King at Versailles. They were well-received, and by an order in council in 1667, an enormous artistic endeavour was undertaken to record the King's collections of paintings, sculpture, and coins, as well as plans of the gardens and buildings and the interior decoration of the royal Residences.. Beginning in 1670, these engravings were published in volumes and presented as gifts to visiting dignitaries. To offset the cost of production, Colbert offered restrikes of them for sale, and in 1727, the first complete set of the Cabinet du Roi engravings was published in 23 volumes. . The engravings in this fifth volume of the set, 52 of which are taken from the interior decoration of the Chateau Versailles, include: the entranceway with the staircase and surrounding frescoes, the frescoes on the ceiling of the gallery Ice, and the tables on the ceilings of the Salon of the Salon of War and Peace, at either end of the gallery.For more than 30 years, Charles Le Brun was the prime overseer of art works created and manufactured for Colbert and Louis XIV. In the Chateau Versailles, he decorated the Hall of Mirrors, the Great Flats King and Queen, and the Stairway Ambassadors at the entrance to the palace. A mammoth artistic project, the decoration included the painting of vaults, niches, frescoes, statues and medallions all showing highlights from Louis' reign (1661-1678). Copperplates were made after Le Brun, Massé and Antoine Coypel's designs by engravers Audran, Baudet, Beauvais, Cars, Desplaces, Dupuis, Simoneau, Surugue and Tardieu, among others ... 66 x 92 cm double but image size varies within the page. This has now been restored and is available singly but the loose boards have been retained in case wanted

Preface
From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon   Included £1 for anyone buying two engravings simply add to cart but will ignore otherwise due to postage charges for this size of item

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Vue exterieure de lentrée du grand escalier du chateau de Versailles - by Charles le Brun
From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

The complete  Staircase ceiling /Plafond du grand escalier du chateau de Versailles, dit Escalier des ambassadeurs by Charles le Brun

Engraving with etching Charles, by Le Brun,  1619-1690  and Charles, Simonneau,  1645-1728 -  From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £285 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

 Entrance to the Staircase /Vestibule du Grand Escalier by Charles le Brun

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £205 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

L'Europe [Le grand escalier de Versailles] , by Charles le Brun
Etching, engraving, black-and-white , All were drawn by  Charles Le Brun, , 1619-1690  Published by Surugue (1686 - 1762), Simonneau and Loire after Chevotet and Le Brun, First published  between 1679 and 1683  then again in 1725 so supect the 1725 date as the paper is substantiually better quality even better than Boydell's paper . ** This is printed to the edge of the page as shown harles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £305 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Plate  2 [Le grand escalier de Versailles] , by Charles le Brun
Etching, engraving, black-and-white , All were drawn by  Charles Le Brun, , 1619-1690  Published by Surugue (1686 - 1762), Simonneau and Loire after Chevotet and Le Brun, First published  between 1679 and 1683  then again in 1725 so supect the 1725 date as the paper is substantiually better quality even better than Boydell's paper . ** This is printed to the edge of the page as shown **Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £325 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Trépié d'Apollon [Le grand escalier de Versailles] ,
Side detail 5 From the Ceiling painting by Charles le Brun /  from 'Le grand escalier de Versailles'

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £285 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Side detail 6 From the Ceiling painting by Charles le Brun /  from 'Le grand escalier de Versailles'

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £285 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Corner detail 3 From the Ceiling painting by Charles le Brun /  from 'Le grand escalier de Versailles'

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £285 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

 Asia From the Ceiling painting by Charles le Brun / L'Asie  from 'Le grand escalier de Versailles'

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Etienne, Baudet,  1638-1711 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.   printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £285 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Ceiling from the Right  passage by Charles le Brun

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Single Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Ceiling from the Left passage by Charles le Brun

From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Single Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Marble floor design  by Charles le Brun
From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Single  Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £145 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

 Plan of the Grand escalier du Château de Versailles dit Escalier des ambassadeurs


From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Double Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs

Trophée des armes de Minerve dans le grand escalier de Versailles 


 Drawn by Charles,  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,
 Drawn by Charles,  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Single  Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs some marking in margins and pic

Vuë du costé gauche du grand escalier de Versailles

 Drawn by Charles,  Le Brun, 1619-1690  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  From the palace of Versailles / Le Grand Escalier de Versailles  Drawn by Charles  Le Brun, 1619-1690 ,  Charles Le Brun, also spelled Lebrun, was painter and designer during the last half of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. He organized and carried out most of the vast projects of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts commissioned by the French government during three decades of the reign of Louis XIV.  engraved by Jean-Michel  Chevotet, , 1698-1772 printed by Louis Surugue, ,  Single  Page engraving with etching of the staircase and entrance to the salon  £185 inc delivery cheaper collected due to size and postal/packing costs