Colen Campbell

Set of Two Engravings from Campbell's "Vitruvius Britannicus" /// Architecture

1715-1725

Two Antique Louvre Architectural Study Prints, Institut Details – Baltard 1803 Description: This elegant pair of early 19th-century architectural engravings originates from the rare and influential publication *Paris et ses Monuments, mesurés, dessinés et gravés*, produced by the French architect and engraver Louis-Pierre Baltard and published in Paris in 1803. Dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, Baltard’s monumental work sought to document the architectural treasures of Paris through precise measured drawings and highly refined copperplate engravings. The publication remains one of the earliest systematic visual surveys of Parisian monuments produced during the Napoleonic era. The two engravings present detailed architectural studies associated with the Louvre Palace and the Institut de France. Baltard’s work was conceived not only as an artistic publication but also as a technical reference for architects and designers studying classical architecture and Renaissance ornament. The first plate illustrates architectural details and a plan of the *Salle des Séances de l’Institut*. The engraving presents finely rendered sections of cornices, column capitals, and decorative architectural elements alongside a floor plan of the hall. These measured studies demonstrate Baltard’s careful analytical approach to architecture, documenting proportions, ornamental profiles, and structural relationships with remarkable precision. Such plates were intended as educational tools for architects and artists studying classical architectural language. The second engraving depicts richly ornamented decorative elements from the *Plafond de la Bibliothèque de l’Institut*. The plate presents fragments of a highly elaborate ceiling decoration composed of geometric coffers, sculptural reliefs, and classical decorative motifs. The composition includes medallions, garlands, rosettes, and mythological ornament arranged in an intricate Renaissance-inspired decorative program. At the center appears a prominent medallion surrounded by radiating architectural ornament, demonstrating the remarkable complexity and richness of the original ceiling design. Baltard’s engravings combine artistic refinement with technical precision. Using delicate burin work and dense hatchings, he carefully recreated the textures of carved stone, molded plaster, and architectural ornament. The plates function as both works of art and architectural documents, preserving important details of Parisian monuments during the early 19th century. Architectural prints from *Paris et ses Monuments* are highly sought after today by collectors of architectural engravings, historians of French art and architecture, and interior designers seeking authentic classical imagery. The combination of architectural plans and decorative ornament makes this pair particularly appealing for display, offering both visual richness and scholarly interest. These are original prints from the year of publication, not later reproductions. The prints are offered unframed, allowing the buyer full freedom to select framing appropriate to personal taste or interior design preferences. Any framed examples shown in photographs are for visual inspiration only. Condition: Good antique condition with general age-related toning and scattered foxing visible mainly in the margins. Wide margins preserved with strong impressions and visible plate marks. Minor handling wear consistent with age. Framing tips: These architectural studies display beautifully when framed as a pair with generous ivory or warm cream mats and dark walnut, ebonized, or gilded frames. Displayed together they create a refined museum-style presentation ideal for classical interiors, libraries, or gallery walls devoted to architectural subjects. Technique: copperplate engraving Maker: Louis-Pierre Baltard, Paris, 1803 Keyword block: antique architectural prints set, baltard paris monuments, louvre architecture engraving, institut de france architectural study, french neoclassical architecture print...

Pair of Serlio Architectural Plan Engravings, Neoclassical, c.1721 This elegant pair of original antique copperplate engravings presents a sophisticated series of classical architec...

Pair of lithographs of The Temple of Portunus in Rome (Italian: Tempio di Portuno) facade and floor plan by Antoine Desgodetz (French, 1653-1728). These pag...

Antique print titled 'This New Design of my Invention, is most humbly inscrib'd to the Rt. Honble Robert Walpole (..)'. Old print depicting a new de...

Architectural Roman Map from "Antiquities of Herculaneum" is an etching on paper realized by Vincenzo Scarpati in the 18th Century. Signed on the plate. Go...

Title: Set of Two Ancient Greek Architecture Prints, Athens, Tardieu, 1825 Description: Set of two original antique engravings depicting important monuments of ancient Athens: the P...

A handsome pair of American architectural engravings depicting taverns; each depicting a 3-story building with accompanying floor plans; each titled 'Design for a First Class Tavern'.

Uses and Customs - Architecture is a lithograph on paper realized in 1862. The artwork belongs to the Suite Uses and customs of all the peoples of the universe: " History of the gov...

Antique print titled 'The Elevation of Iohn Waller Esqr. his house in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire (..)'. Old engraving of the house of John Waller in Beaconsfield. This print ori...

Napoleonic Architectural Engravings Set, Baltard Paris Monuments Plates, 1803 This striking set of eight early 19th-century architectural engravings originates from the rare French publication Paris et ses Monuments, mesurés, dessinés et gravés, created by architect and engraver Louis-Pierre Baltard and published in Paris in 1803 during the early Napoleonic period. Baltard’s monumental publication was dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte and aimed to systematically document the architectural treasures of Paris and its surrounding monuments through precise measurement, architectural drawing, and finely executed copperplate engravings. Today the work is regarded as one of the earliest comprehensive visual surveys of Parisian architecture produced during the Napoleonic era. The present group forms a visually balanced and highly decorative set illustrating several aspects of classical and Renaissance architecture. The engravings include façade elevations, architectural plans, ornamental studies, sculptural fragments, and atmospheric architectural views. Together they present a remarkable overview of architectural design, structural composition, and decorative detail typical of the scholarly architectural publications produced in France at the beginning of the nineteenth century. One of the most notable plates in the group shows the measured plan of the Château d’Écouen, one of the most important Renaissance châteaux in France. Built in the sixteenth century for the powerful Montmorency family, the château later became an important national monument and today houses the Musée National de la Renaissance. The engraved plan carefully illustrates the château’s symmetrical layout around its central courtyard together with the surrounding terraces, landscaped grounds, and tree-lined avenues. Other plates depict grand classical façades, monumental arches, richly carved capitals, sculptural ornaments, and picturesque architectural views set within wooded landscapes. Baltard’s engravings are admired for their combination of architectural precision and refined artistic engraving. Crisp linework defines the structural forms, while delicate shading creates depth in the sculptural and landscape elements. Architectural engravings from Paris et ses Monuments have become increasingly desirable among collectors, architects, and interior designers. Their refined balance between scholarly architectural documentation and decorative visual appeal makes them particularly suitable for elegant interiors such as libraries, studies, galleries, or sophisticated European-style homes. Displayed together as a gallery wall, the engravings create a striking architectural ensemble reflecting the intellectual spirit and artistic ambition of the Napoleonic period. The original antique engravings are offered unframed, giving flexibility to select frames that best suit the intended interior. Condition report: Very good condition for early nineteenth-century engravings. Printed on laid paper with wide margins. Light age toning and occasional small spots consistent with age. The engraved impressions remain sharp and clear. Framing tips: These engravings display beautifully as a coordinated wall set. Dark walnut or black frames with generous ivory or warm off-white mats create a refined museum-style presentation. For a more contemporary interior, thin black gallery frames with wide mats highlight the elegant linework and architectural detail. Technique: Copperplate engraving Maker: Louis-Pierre Baltard, Paris, 1803 Keywords: napoleonic architectural engravings, baltard paris monuments 1803, antique french architecture prints...