Beschreibung:

René Primevère Lesson (1794-1849) Antoine-Germain BÉVALET (1779-1850), Zoë DUMONT (fl.1830), Marie Clémence LESSON (1796/7-1834), Paul Louis OUDART (1796-post 1859), Jean Gabriel PRÊTRE (fl.1800-1850), and Antoine Charles VAUTHIER (1790-post 1831). Oiseaux-Mouches, Colibris et Oiseaux de Paradis. Dessins originaux aux ouvrages de R.P. Lesson par J.G. Prêtre, Bevalet et P. Oudard Paris 1827-1833 [manuscript title leaf]. Sheet size: 319 x 236mm, 2 on larger folded sheets (404 x 274mm) and one on a smaller sheet mounted to size (289 x 192mm). A collection of 260 FINE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR DRAWINGS ON 256 SHEETS with a manuscript title leaf and a 4-leaf manuscript index, being an almost complete set of the finished watercolours used by the engravers and colourists for Lesson's published works, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches , Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, suivie d'un Supplément à l'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches , Les Trochilidées ou les Colibris et les Oiseaux-Mouches, suivis d'un Index général , and Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Épimaques . Many heightened with gum arabic, a few heightened with gold, 59 signed by Bévalet, one by Marie Lesson, 12 by Oudart, 172 by Prêtre, 3 by Vauthier, and 13 unsigned, but attributed on the published plates to Dumont (one), Prêtre (12), all but the watercolours from the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis... numbered in the top right corner according to the manuscript index and bearing the published plate number in the lower left. (Occasional light unobtrusive spotting and light overall browning to a few watercolours, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis... watercolours numbers 32 and 34 creased, 32 with a 45mm repaired tear to the outer blank margin, 34 with 2 short repaired tears to the left blank margin.) Unbound within a later folding cloth chemise, contained in a yellow morocco solander box, titled in gilt on the spine. The collection comprises: (i) Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches . 87 watercolours on 83 sheets, including 4 sheets with 2 watercolours each (one of these, number 216, with a subject published in the Histoire Naturelle des Colibris... ). 42 signed by Bévalet, one signed by Marie Lesson, 36 signed by Prêtre, 3 signed by Vauthier, one unsigned, but attributed on the published plate to Dumont. One dated 1827, the others undated. (ii) Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, suivie d'un Supplément à l'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches . 65 watercolours. 6 signed by Bévalet, 55 signed by Prêtre, 4 unsigned, but attributed on the published plates to Prêtre. One dated 1831, the others undated. (iii) Les Trochilidées ou les Colibris et les Oiseaux-Mouches, suivis d'un Index général . 67 watercolours, watercolour number 150 possibly a version of number 149, and not published. 8 signed by Bévalet, 52 signed by Prêtre, 7 unsigned, but attributed on the published plates to Prêtre. 3 dated 1831, the others undated. (iv) Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Épimaques . One-leaf manuscript title 'Oiseaux de Paradis 41pls' on blue paper. 41 watercolours to 41, (lacking the watercolours to published plates numbers 7 and 21. 12 signed by Paul Oudart), 28 signed by Prêtre, 1 unsigned, but attributed on the finished plate to Prêtre. Most dated 1831 or 1834. A MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOME OF THE LEADING FRENCH ORNITHOLOGICAL ARTISTS OF THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY, comprising all but 3 of the original watercolours for the plates of Lesson's 4 major monographs on exotic avifauna. The principal artists for these works were Antoine-German Bévalet, Paul Louis Oudart and Jean Gabriel Prêtre. Bévalet, judged by Jackson 'an exceptionally able and reliable artist' ( Dictionary , p.157), studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and exhibited at the Salon between 1812 and 1844. A veteran of L'Uranie's circumnavigation of 1817-1820 before joining Lesson on the Coquille's, he had first-hand experience of the exotic species depi