Manuscript on paper of a collection of texts by Nicolas de Locques, in which practical laboratory procedures are mingled with speculative and mystical alchemy
Description:
In French., Script: Written in a practiced scribal hand in a flowing cursive sloping to the right with infrequent standard abbreviation; a second similar, but finer hand on p. 358 only., Watermarks: Paper with unidentified watermark of a griffin rampant (?), the hind paws on a staff incorporating letters and numbers "Y49" (?), countermarked with 2 lines of capitals, the first word perhaps "JUVIMAL" (sic)., and Binding: Original French binding of mottled calf, the sides plain, the edges of the covers gilt-stamped a la grotesque, back (repaired and restored at foot) with seven bands, the compartments gilt-stamped to a rectangular pattern, a lozenge of leafy sprays in the center of each, with triangular elements of the same at the corners, original title label in the second compartment from the top, marbled endpapers, edges speckled red.
A single-horse carriage is stopped in front of a rustic inn or roadhouse, with two caricatured Frenchmen (one a postillion wearing enormous boots) engaged in changing out the horse. An occupant of the carriage hands money out the window to a peasant woman holding an infant and accompanied by a young boy; two other shabbily dressed figures are nearby next to a tree, one of them playing a makeshift drum. In the doorway of the building stands a young woman, and to the left a man under an archway stands with arms crossed; both watch the scene unfold. In the background a postillion rides away on horseback, whip extended into the air
Alternative Title:
Changing horses on the road to Paris
Description:
Title from dealer's description., Signed by the artist in lower left., and One of five views by the artist F.G. Byron that record his visit to France in 1790; they were exhibited at the Society of Artists the following year. This drawing was exhibited under the title "Changing horses on the road to Paris" (Society of Artists, 1791, no. 39).
Subject (Geographic):
Clermont (France) and France.
Subject (Topic):
Carriages & coaches, Horses, Taverns (Inns), Postillions, French, Peasants, Country life, Ethnic stereotypes, and Drums (Musical instruments)