Le Soleil Au Signe du Lyon
Medium
Printed book with cut ornament and etched plates
Dimensions
Overall: 12 3/16 x 8 1/4 x 1 in. (31 x 21 x 2.5 cm)
Classification
Books
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.39.1
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department where *Le Soleil Au Signe Lyon* (The Sun the Sign of Leo), in 1623,ivates with its collaborative. Crafted by a talented ensemble including Jacques Roussin of Lyon, Claude Audran, Grégoire Huret, D. V. Welthem, Pierre Lef, and G. Autouers, this printed book measures a compact 12 3/16 x 8 1/4 x 1 inches. Lyon, a thriving hub of printing in early 17th-century France, fostered such intricate works blending text and imagery. The book's medium—printed pages adorned with cut ornaments and etched plates—highlights innovative techniques of the Baroque era's dawn. Etching allowed for delicate, fluid lines ideal for symbolic motifs like lions, evoking the zodiac sign of Leo and its solar associations. Cut ornaments added tactile depth, transforming the volume into a decorative treasure, possibly for emblematic or pattern-book use in design or astrology-inspired art. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1940, this rarity reflects the era's fascination with celestial themes and masterful printmaking. Lions prowling its pages symbolize strength and regality, inviting visitors to ponder how such books influenced ornamentation across Europe. A true gem of collaborative ingenuity!
About the Artist
Jacques Roussin, Lyon|Claude Audran III|Grégoire Huret|D. V. Welthem|Pierre Lefevre|G. Autouers (French|French|French|French?|French|French) · |1658 |1606 |1600 |0017 |1600 – |1734 |1670 |1700 |0017 |1700
|French, Lyons 1658–1734 Paris|French, Lyon 1606–1670 Paris|French (?), active 17th century|French, active 17th century|French, active 17th century