Le Pautre, Jean (1618-82; French)
Relation de la Feste de Versailles du 18 Juillet 1668 (1678-79)
5 engravings
Gift of George Collins Levey 1879
National Gallery of Victoria (links indicated below)

= Levey gift, cat.nos.123-27

[photo: Plate V: Illuminations… (p.183.90-1)]

Le Pautre was known especially for his plates of French Baroque architectural decoration (see linked artist entry for further details).

These prints document the second major festival staged by Louis XIV at Versailles in July 1668, to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, marking the end of the war between France and Spain. This festival was held 4 years after the celebrations marking the commencement of the development of the palace and gardens under Louis XIV: see Silvestre Plaisirs de l’Isle enchantée… 1664 {1879} NGV [PR].

The 1668 festival was staged in pavilions erected at various locations in the gardens. Events included a new comedy by Molière and a ballet with music by Lully, a lavish banquet, a ball, and, as dawn approached, a concluding fireworks display (see reproduction above). A book documenting the events was published in 1679, including a text by André Félibien, and Le Pautre’s five engravings.

The NGV’s online catalogue provides full details and reproductions of the individual engravings as follows:

I. Collation donnée dans le petit Parc de Versailles 1678 (p.183.79-1)
II. Les Festes de l’Amour et de Bacchus, Comedie en Musique representée dans le petit Parc de Versailles 1678 (p.183.82-1)
III. Festin donné dans le petit Parc de Versailles 1678 (p.183.86-1)
IV. La Salle du Bal donné dans le petit Parc de Versailles 1678 (p.183.88-1)
V. Illuminations du Palais et des Jardins de Versailles 1679 (p.183.90-1)

See also Le Pautre (J.) & Chauveau Divertissements de Versailles… 1674 {1879} NGV [PR].

Refs.

Not listed in NGV 1894 or 1905 

See also Suite et Arrangement (1727), p.15; Duplessis Cabinet du roi (1869), p.12; and Fuhring Kingdom of Images (2015), pp.272-3, cat.97 (entry on no.III above by Louis Marchesano: as by Lepautre after Bérain; and also reproducing no.II)