{"id":43395,"date":"2025-04-10T18:06:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T22:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.georgeglazer.com\/wpmain\/?post_type=product&p=43395"},"modified":"2025-04-11T04:43:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:43:30","slug":"globes-in-art-french-louis-xiv-science-patron-antique-print-c-1790s-reserved","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.georgeglazer.com\/wpmain\/product\/globes-in-art-french-louis-xiv-science-patron-antique-print-c-1790s-reserved\/","title":{"rendered":"Globes in Art, French, Louis XIV Science Patron, Antique Print, c. 1790s (Reserved)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This print was issued as the frontispiece from the first edition of one of the important natural history books of the 18th century, Memoires pour servir a l’Histoire Naturelle des Animaux<\/strong> by Claude Perrault published in 1771 by the Acad\u00e9mie Royale des Sciences. The book describes twenty-nine animal species \u2013 some newly discovered — such as the lynx, porcupine, eagle, cormorant, and ostriches. There are two editions of this book, both of which can be found in university libraries and museums around the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Library, University of Michigan Library, and the Biblioth\u00e8que Nationale de France. Altogether, this print is a vivid portrait of 17th century intellectual life, highlighting Louis XIV as a central, almost divine figure in the early advancement of scientific inquiry in Europe.<\/p>\n

S\u00e9bastien Le Clerc was a French engraver and draftsman celebrated for his meticulous, technically precise prints. Born in Metz, he began his career studying mathematics and military engineering, a background that later informed the clarity and structure of his artwork. He eventually moved to Paris, where his skill as an engraver gained the attention of King Louis XIV. Le Clerc became associated with the royal court and the Acad\u00e9mie Royale des Sciences, producing illustrations that documented scientific discoveries and architectural achievements during Louis XIV\u2019s reign. He was also a member of the Acad\u00e9mie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture and authored instructional texts on drawing and perspective. His work reflects the intersection of science, art, and royal power in 17th-century France, and he remains one of the period\u2019s most influential figures in visual culture.<\/p>\n

Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally cleaned and deacidified with only light remaining toning, wear, handling..<\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

\u201cMe\u0301moires pour servir a\u0300 l’histoire naturelle des animaux.\u201d Smithsonian Institute. https:\/\/library.si.edu\/digital-library\/book\/meymoirespourse00perr (10 April 2025).<\/p>\n

\u201cSebastien Leclerc.\u201d Wikipedia. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/S%C3%A9bastien_Leclerc (10 April 2025).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

S\u00e9bastien Leclerc (1637-1714)
\nThe Sun King as Patron of the Sciences<\/strong>
\nfrom Memoires pour servir a l’Histoire Naturelle des Animaux [Memoirs for a Natural History of Animals]<\/strong>
\nImprimerie Royale<\/strong>, Paris: 1771
\nEngraving uncolored
\n16 x 11.75 inches, ruled border
\n16.5 x 12.25 inches, plate mark
\n18.25 x 12.75 inches, overall<\/p>\n

A beautifully detailed historical engraving by the renowned artist and engraver S\u00e9bastien Leclarc showcasing King Louis XIV\u2019s patronage of science and learning during the French Age of Enlightenment. The sun king is shown at the center of the scene studying astronomy with an armillary sphere in the foreground. He is surrounded by members of his court and several scholars and members of Acad\u00e9mie Royale des Sciences. The setting is a grand, high-ceiling hall with large arched windows opening to a formal garden and the recognizable silhouette of the Paris Observatory in the distance. Within the room, an array of objects associated with natural philosophy and astronomy fills the space. Prominently featured are a large armillary sphere and an angled telescope, along with full-sized human and animal skeletons, as well as a terrestrial globe, scientific instruments, and botanical specimens. On the far right, a figure bends over a telescope aimed out the window. Shelves and tables overflow with books, skulls, and specimens, and various anatomical models and astronomical tools hang on the walls.<\/p>\n

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