As an artist in printmaking, myself, I particularly like the elegant economy of the line work in the horses’ anatomy and tack. Even purely technical plates of this era carry the refinement of French academic draftsmanship. Over the years I've collected at least a thousand intaglio prints which date to 16th century. Some are from large books of illustrations, which is the case for these 3.
These 3 are wonderful late 17th to earliest 18th century French engravings relating to the bourrelier or harness-maker/saddler trade, illustrating pack and draught harness arrangements for horses and mules. The inscriptions “Bourrelier” and “Baslier” refer to types or specialties of harness equipment and pack saddles.
The plates are engraved after designs by Goussier (“Goussier del.”) and engraved by Benard (“Benard fecit”). That pairing is important and immediately places them within the orbit of the great French Enlightenment publishing projects, almost certainly from Diderot & d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie or a closely related technical compendium.
Jean-Jacques Goussier (1722–1799) was one of the principal illustrators for the Encyclopédie, and Robert Bénard was among the major engravers. These occupational and technical plates were issued mainly circa 1760–1775.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, 100% cotton rag hand laid paper, which in this large size was also a luxury and expensive. You can see the edge mark of the copper plate, and no cuts at that delicate point. Full page, light foxing at edges commensurate with some age. One page has a small brown spot on it, another has pale spots. Flat, no creases nor fold marks. One has plenty of paper outside the copper plate marks to have a mat cut to show them well, which is how to frame these. Superb gallery set of 3.
