ANDRE MARCHA BROCHE BRINS DE MUGUET En deux tons d'or, les fleurs serties de diamants blancs et jaunes, la feuille pavée d'un camaÏeu de tsavorites et de saphirs oranges. Monogrammée. Dans son écrin. A diamond, sapphire, tsavorite and 18k gold lily of the valley brooch, by André Marcha. RC : Dimensions : 10 x 4,5 cm environ. Poids brut : 62,6 g (18k - 750).

VERSAILLES. - RAINSSANT (Pierre). Explanation des tableaux de la galerie de Versailles, et de ses deux sallons. ÀVersailles, de l'imprimerie de François Muguet, 1687. In-4, (10)-117-(uneblanche)pp. copy with very wide margins (28,4x20,6cm), garnet-red morocco, cloisonné ribbed spine with chain of geometrical motifs at head and tail, gilt fillet framing on covers with gilt coat of arms in center, ornate edges, inner gilt roulette, gilt edges; covers a little stained and slightly sunned, marginal wetness with several leaves slightly faded (period binding). First edition. One of the first books printed in Versailles, by the city's prototypographer, François Muguet, who was installed by order of Louis XIV in the former Hôtel de Seignelay. 19 copper-engraved vignettes in the text (4 in repeats), including bandeaux (3 of which signed by Sébastien Leclerc after Charles LeBrun), culs-de-lampe and initials. On paintings by Charles Lebrun to celebrate the reign of LouisXIV. Printed as a gift for Court officials and distinguished guests, this work is devoted to the compositions painted in the Galerie des Glaces or Grande Galerie (completed in 1684), as well as in the salons de la Paix et de la Guerre (completed in 1686), to illustrate the King's successes from his accession in 1661 to the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678-1679. A member of the Académie des Inscriptions (1682) and keeper of the king's medals (1684), Pierre Rainssant was a learned physician who enjoyed the protection of the archbishop of Reims (his native city), Charles-Maurice LeTellier, brother of Louvois and a great bibliophile. When captions had to be placed under the paintings in the Grande Galerie and the two adjoining salons, those composed by Pierre Rainssant (in French) were preferred to those proposed by Abbé Paul Tallemant (in Latin) and François Charpentier (in French). Copy with the arms of LouisXIV (OHR, pl.n°2494, iron n°10 in second format). Provenance: d'Assier de Valenches family (handwritten ex-libris on one endpaper, and armorial ex-libris stamp on the same endpaper and on the title).