Beschreibung:

BASAN, Pierre-François (1723-1797). Recueil d'estampes gravées d'après les tableaux du cabinet de Monseigneur le Duc de Choiseul . Paris: Basan, 1771. 4° (259 x 198mm). Engraved throughout, title after Choffard, portrait of Choiseul, and dedication to Choiseul, 6 leaves of index, 127 plates, annotated on the with verso prices realized at the sale, one double plate. (Torn at fold.) Contemporary red morocco gilt with the arms of the Duc de Choiseul, spine gilt in six compartments, g.e. Provenance : Abercairny (armorial bookplate); Ardoch (armorial bookplate). Cohen-de Ricci 115-116; Sander 82 After a brillant career in the army, Etienne-François, duc de Choiseul (1719-1785) married the daughter of Crozat. Thanks to the protection he received from Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV's mistress, Choiseul was made ambassador to the Holy See, and before long he was appointed minister of foreign affairs and later to the ministery of war and navy. After the death of his benefactor Madame de Pompadour in 1772 Choiseul was disgraced and exiled. Choiseul was a great collector, and asked Basan, one of the most eminent experts of the time, to organize a catalogue of his collection. Although dated 1771 on the title page, the catalogue was finished a year later. Choiseul was unfortunately disgraced the same year and a sale was organized by the expert Boileau on 6-10 April 1772; the remaining part of the collection was sold after Choiseul's death on 18 December 1786.