Catalogue de Tableaux des Ecoles d’Italie, de Flandres, et de France. Dessins, Estampes, Terres-cuites, Marbres...
106 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Le Brun, 1785.
The uncommon sale catalogue of the collection of a famous patron of the arts. Bailli de Breteuil (1725?-85), an influential diplomat who was ambassador to Malta, collected paintings, sculptures, curiosities, and objets d’art. He lived in Rome for about two decades and he owned a magnificent Roman villa decorated by Lavallée-Poussin. Upon returning to Paris in 1787, he frequented Grimod de La Reynière’s salon. Rumors abounded that Bailli was engaged in an affair with Madame Grimod.
The present catalogue fully... More