Information
Paris, Chez Gandouin-Giffart, 1729. In 2nd. 5 vols. 438 x 280mm. 306 engraved plates (299 numbered, others without number), of which 113 are double with a folding plate, an equestrian portrait of Louis in copper, slight redness, otherwise perfect copy, splendid contemporary binding in marbled calfskin with gold decorations on the plates and spine, defects. Ex libris on the pastedown of Baron Northurck.
Specialist Notes
Founding work of medieval museography, this monumental and undeniably prolific work on the monuments and objects of the Middle Ages constitutes a truly imaginary museum of the origins of the French nation. Despite his discordant opinions on the medieval period, which he himself defined as "rude times", Bernard de Montfaucon (1655-1741), Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Saint-Maur, was one of the first to take an interest in the "centuries of barbarism" and to realize I realized that a national heritage essential for the understanding of French history was gradually disappearing. Thanks to the help of the Maurist network spread throughout France and the methodological and scientific rigor of these scholars, Montfaucon compiled a chronological repertoire of images reproducing French sculptures, art objects, seals, miniatures and monuments. Among the most important are the 15 panels which reproduce the Bayeux Tapestry for the first time. Each image is accompanied by a description and text that illustrates the history of each kingdom. In this way, Bernard de Montfaucon unfolds the fabric of history through the prism of art objects. In his preface, Bernard de Montfaucon justifies his historical bent: "I do not pretend to give the history of France in its full extent, but it will be more detailed than all the abridged versions, and will have the advantage of representing a very large number of figures taken from the originals of the time".
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Condition report
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