Château de Versailles seen from the forecourt, from Chalcographie du Louvre, Vol. 22
1682, reprinted ca. 1860
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Plate: 14 15/16 x 19 13/16 in. (38 x 50.4 cm) Sheet: 19 5/16 x 26 3/8 in. (49 x 67 cm)
Classification
Prints|Books
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.22(22.64)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the grandeur of 17th-century France with Silvestre's etching *Château de Versailles seen from the forecourt*, in 1682 and later reprinted around 1860 as part of the *Chalcographie du Louvre Vol. 22*. This detailed print offers a sweeping view of Louis XIV's opulent palace from its forecourt, showcasing the symmetrical facade, expansive wings, and manicured gardens that symbolized the Sun King's absolute power. Silvestre, a masterful French printmaker known for his topographical precision, captured Versailles at the height of its construction, immortalizing a monument that redefined E...
About the Artist
Israel Silvestre (French) · 1621 –1691
French, Nancy 1621–1691 Paris