125 - ISRAËL SILVESTRE (1621–1691), drawn and engraved by

ISRAËL SILVESTRE (1621–1691), drawn and engraved by Quinque turmarum in Amphitheatro Pompa exhibita — Solemn Entrance of the Five Quadrilles into the Amphitheater Period engraving framed under glass 56 x 79 cm 62 x 84.5 cm (with frame) B.E. (slight crease in the center) The composition depicts the amphitheater built in Paris for the lavish equestrian festivities held in 1662 to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin. The five richly costumed quadrilles (Romans, Persians, Turks, Indians, and Savages) are gathered in the arena in a spectacular scene that precedes the horse races and ring games. The procession of horsemen, organized according to a meticulous order, combines the splendor of Louis XIV’s court with the imagery of ancient triumphs and distant lands. With its grandeur and rich decoration, this print stands as a major testament to the art of festivities during the reign of Louis XIV. The large prints of the 1662 Carrousel, engraved by Israël Silvestre, rank among the most ambitious works of 17th-century French printmaking. Copies of this engraving are held, notably, in the collections of the Albertina in Vienna and the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica in Rome.