The Nec Plus Ultra of Art Catalogues
Catalogue raisonné des Tableaux, Desseins & Estampes, et autres Effets curieux, après le décès de M. de Jullienne, Ecuyer, Chevalier de Saint-Michel, & Honoraire de l’Académie Royale de Peinture & de Sculpture. Par Pierre Remy…
Finely engraved frontis. xx, 316 pp. Small 8vo, cont. mottled calf (expertly rebacked), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Vente, 1767.
[bound with as usual]:
(—). Catalogue raisonné de Porcelaines, tant anciennes, premiere forte, qu’ancien Japon & la Chine: d’Effets précieux d’anciens Lacqs, riches Meubles de Boule, & Bijoux, faisant partie du Cabinet de feu… Par C.F, Julliot, Marchand… 80 pp., one leaf of approbation. [Paris: Didot, 1767].
The catalogue of the art collections of one of France’s greatest collectors, the patron and close friend of Antoine Watteau. Jullienne (1686-1766), supported many contemporary artists, and his relationship with Watteau represents “a key moment in the development of French 18th-century painting and patronage…His strong interest in French art and Netherlandish painting, led the way for a new generation of rich Parisian collectors who had only loose connections with the French court. As a result, the 18th century saw the establishment of a new cultural avant-garde.”–“Esprit et Vérité: Watteau and His Circle,” exhibition description on the Wallace collection website.
Jullienne also served as editor and agent for Watteau’s works after the artist’s premature death and worked tirelessly to preserve his legacy. At his own expense, he produced engravings of 450 of Watteau’s works, a mission which lasted 27 years and went through 15 engravers (16, including Jullienne, himself an amateur draughtsman, who executed 17 reproductions). This resulted in the famous four volume Receuil Jullienne, a lavish publication which secured Watteau’s memory for posterity.
These catalogues (1679 lots in total), priced throughout in a contemporary hand with some interesting annotations, describe Jullienne’s enormous collection of Dutch, French and Italian art, along with numerous antiquities (detailed in the second catalogue). The first work features the collector’s personal collection of Watteau (lots 250-61 & 769-827) and celebrated Dutch paintings by Van Dyck, Teniers, and Rubens. This catalogue also has an index of artists. On the final page of the second catalogue, the owner has tabulated the totals for both days. The sale netted 391,676 livres.
Very good copy. Bookplate of Alexandre and Marie Moatti, the French collectors.
❧ Benezit, Dictionary of Artists, Vol. 7, p. 997 (Jean de Jullienne).
Price: $2,500.00
Item ID: 6031
