Title of the plan. PLAN DU LABIRINTHE DE VERSAILLES à Paris Chez le Sr. Dans l’Isle du Palais sur le Quay de l’Orloge a la Sphere Royale 1715. Unusual antique copper engraved plan of the labyrinth, a famous part of the gardens of Versailles, by Nicolas DE FER, 18th century. The Labyrinth of Versailles was built by André Le Nôtre from 1668 in the gardens of the castle on an idea of Charles Perrault, then in charge of defining the iconography of the royal artistic programs. The thirty-eight fountains that make it up – a thirty-ninth fountain was later added – were built between 1672 and 1674, at the crossroads of the alleys, after the installation of the hydraulic network. Each of them, adorned with polychrome lead animal sculptures, seed stones and shells, depicts an episode from Esope’s fables. His earliest wellknown map of the canal de Languedoc, realised in 1669. In 1697, he published his first world atlas. In 1695, De Fer, with several other notable French mapmakers, became founding contributors to the French Bureau of Maps and Plans. This bureau, created to deal with the technical and strategic problems of overseas commerce and exploration, was part of the Royal Academy of Sciences’ Ministry of the Navy and Colonies. Size with margins : 38,5 x 25,6 cm / 14,9 x 9,8 inches. Condition : very good condition, in colors. Edition : Paris, dated 1715, 18th Century. WE DON’T SELL LASER AND COPIES MAPS, ALL WE SELL IS ORIGINAL AND ANTIQUE. Due to the age an type of paper, some imperfections are to be expected. Please examine the images provided carefully, and if you have any questions please ask and we will be happy to help you. This item is in the category “Antiques\Maps, Atlases & Globes\Europe Maps”. The seller is “efi6″ and is located in this country: FR. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Date Range: 1700-1799
- Printing Technique: Copper Plate
- Year: 1715
- Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
- Country/Region: France