Originally published in three oversized portfolios in 1907 and the following year, with a single volume also appearing in 1908, the ninety-seven plates with accompanying text were then reprinted in various smaller sized editions upwards of eleven times, the last dated 1929. This is a selection of the plates, a large number of which were renderings of furniture which I've not included, pieces that were used to give the building some semblance of what it looked like before the Revolution, but which actually had little or no connection to the original furnishings or occupants.
Because these remarkable images were created using thousands of very fine lines, they don't digitally reduce well; the lines distort and the images lose definition. Trying to add sharpness back in only distorts them further. So I've added the images to the post in their original size, and it takes an extra step to see them properly. In Windows, click on the image and then right click and choose "Open image in new tab" to view all the incredible detail. (I believe it's a similar process if you're using a Mac.) I apologize for the inconvenience, but the present format is so limiting. I've been looking online for large files of these images for years. Literally. So I hope that blog visitors who're as nerdy as I am about these things will be able to overlook the annoyance of that extra step in order to enjoy all the information and beautiful precision to be found in these exquisite renderings.
Thank you so much for such fantastic work; as a lover and admirer of French XVIII century art and architecture, these drawings are priceless. Honour and Glory to James Arnott and John Wilson who produced these magnificent architectural drawings. Having said that, architectural drawings are a branch of the Fine Arts that is not appreciated as it should be. It reached its zenith towards the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century. Some times they were combined with watercolours to produce the most beautiful reproductions of ancient or modern buildings. BTW, here is a link to a contemporary British artist's beautiful work: https://mymodernmet.com/architecture-sketches-phoebe-atkey/
ReplyDeletePetit Trianon, one of the grand folies of Versailles. Every crown head in Europe copied from Versailles, building an array of palaces and folies across Europe. The prestigious Academy of Letters in Sao Paulo, Brazil is a replica of the Petit Trianon, the Old World reaching out to the New World in both architecture and culture.
ReplyDeleteLes copies sont le meilleur compliment, c'est si bon. - Rj