Illustrated with a frontispiece-title and six large full-page plates, engraved and finely highlighted in gouache, two of them signed by Rouargue.
A charming volume whose compositions are set within architectural frames inspired by Gothic and Renaissance design, forming a fine example of the historicist aesthetic of the Restoration: idealized medieval scenes, stylized costumes, foliate borders and heraldic motifs. The layout perfectly suits this troubadour imagery, of which Louis Janet was one of the most active Parisian practitioners.
Charles Malo assembled an anthology of medieval tales, in step with the troubadour fashion then triumphant among publishers of illustrated gift books and albums. Alongside texts attributed to Belleau, Ronsard, Baïf, Saint-Gelais, Clotilde de Surville, Diane de Poitiers, Marot and Du Bellay, the volume includes the celebrated chantefable “Aucassin et Nicolette,” as well as fabliaux such as Du chevalier à la robe vermeille and Les Trois aveugles de Compiègne.
The volume gives the first printing of three pieces — Malo states in his preface that he “collated them against the originals.” He presents this collection as the sequel to his Livre d’Amour ou Folâstreries du vieux temps (published by Janet five years earlier), conceived “for the Ladies,” a statement that reveals the gallant and bibliophilic aim of the enterprise.
A very fine copy with wide margins, on vellum paper, with the seven full-page plates finely colored in gouache, in a delightful Romantic-period binding.