LABORDE (Jean-Benjamin de). Choix de chansons mises en musiq - Lot 7

LABORDE (Jean-Benjamin de). Choix de chansons mises en musique. ÀParis, chez de Lormel, 1773. 4volumes large in-8, 154-(4of which the last is blank) +153-(one blank) +150-(4of which the last is blank) +150-(4of which the last is blank)pp., a large-margined copy (23.5x16cm), marbled brown calf, smooth spines with partitions and fleurons, garnet-red title and tomaison, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, decorated edges, red edges; upper head and corners restored in vols.I andIV, some marginal dampening in vol.III (contemporary binding except for vol.II in modern binding in imitation of the others). Entirely engraved, copy on white paper. Collection of songs and romances by Moncrif, Marmontel, François-Jean de Beauvoir de Chastellux, etc. Superb copper-engraved illustration. Includes 4 illustrated titles, an illustrated dedication and 100 full-page scenes. The drawings by Jean-Michel Moreau dit Moreau le jeune (the 25 scenes in the first volume), Jean-Jacques-François LeBarbier, Joseph-Barthélemy LeBouteux, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, were engraved by Moreau le Jeune (mostly after his own compositions), Louis-Joseph Masquelier, François-Denis Née. The work is dedicated to Marie-Antoinette dauphine: it bears her coat of arms on the dedication page and her portrait on the title of the second volume. The present copy is one of those featuring her portrait-frontispiece, engraved by Louis-Joseph Masquelier after Dominique-Vivant Denon, and added out of pagination in 1774. On the other hand, the portrait of Madame de Laborde pregnant, which was only added in less than 10 copies, does not appear here. Jean-Benjamin LaBorde (1734-1794), composer, patron of the arts and fermier général, was first valet de chambre to Louis XV, with whom he was very close. His wife, a reader of Marie-Antoinette, was the consort of the Marquis de Marigny, brother of Madame de Pompadour, and, widowed, married the Duc deRohan for the second time.