Workshop of Charles Le Brun

With Alister Mathews, Bournemouth, from whom purchased, 1956

The present design was engraved by François Chauveau in 1675, along with another less elaborate chandelier and two decorative panels for the walls of the Grotto of Thetis at Versailles.¹  In his capacity as directeur des Gobelins et ordonnateur des décors des résidences royales, Le Brun and his workshop produced numerous decorative designs for objects of silver,² of which the present drawing is a likely example.  Ralph Holland suggested in his notes that it is based on a counterproofing technique employed by Le Brun in other drawings found in the collection of the Louvre, Paris.³

And four other drawings including three by Jean-Charles Delafosse and a related print.

1.  See E. Lionnard de Lens, 'Ce qu'il reste de ces fantastiques grottes de coquillages élevées jadis aux alentours de Paris,' Connaissance des arts, no. 160, June 1965, pp. 57-58
2.  Paris, Louvre, inv. 30 222, 30 217
3.  Paris, Louvre, inv. 29 552, 29 555, 30 213