Antique ORIGINAL FRENCH ENGRAVING by Jacques De Seve Hand Colored Print of Le Coq, Engraved by Le Grand

This is an original engraving of a circa 1760 illustration titled "Le Coq" (The Rooster) by the French artist Jacques de Seve (active 1742-1788). The title is in the center beneath the image with L. Le Grand Sculp. to the right (Sculp. is the abbreviation for "sculpsit", a Latin word used to identify the engraver of an artwork originally created by another artist). To the left is lettered "De Seve del" (del is an abbreviation of “Delineavit,” which is Latin for “he drew” or “delineated it”). This is followed by Ediz.(?) a drawing of a flower, the letters lla in script and the number 1--possibly meaning this was the first edition or printing.

Jacques de Seve was commissioned to provide illustrations for several natural history encyclopedias published in the mid to late 1700's (although there is no indication, such as a plate number or volume number that this engraving was once part of a book). His realistic drawings were often set against landscape backgrounds, like the classic French farmstead in this print. The French etcher/engraver of the print, Louis Le Grand, was also active in the eighteenth century.

This impression of "The Rooster" is printed on hand-made, laid paper, shown by the lines embedded in the paper by the papermaking process. It was hand tinted, and the colors are still vivid and fresh. The print is unmatted, with full margins, and measures 9 inches by 6 3/4 inches to the plate mark and exclusive of the margins. The sight size is 11 3/4 by 8 1/2 inches. The print was framed within the last 40 years with a matte finished, 1 1/2 inch wide wood frame in a russet color that nicely complements the artwork. The framed size is approximately 14 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches and the piece weighs 2 pounds. The glass cover is conservation glass, used to protect the art from UV light.

The print is in very good condition, with only a slight ripple when viewed from certain angles. The frame, glass and dust paper are in excellent condition and a sturdy wire has been installed for hanging. This fine, early etched and engraved print is highly decorative and increasingly rare.

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