- Title: Versailles en Ballon
- Author: Jules Arnout
- Date: 1846
- Condition: Excellent - holes in top edge of margin from original binding, very mild foxing
- Inches: 17 1/4 x 12 1/2 [Image]
- Centimeters: 43.81 x 31.75 [Image]
- Product ID: 308140
The Rare Arnout Aerial Views
Extremely rare lithographic view of Versailles in France from balloon. The image depicts a balloon in the distance, plate caption includes the name of the place depicted followed by the words EN BALLON and then a sub-heading with the precise location of the view. In this example, Vue Prise au Dessus du Grand Canal.
The French artist and printmaker Jules Arnout traveled across Europe making bird’s eye views of major cities and important civic events. He used a hot-air balloon as a platform to sketch each EXCURSIONS AÉRIENNES and then drew his balloon into the final scene. Arnout’s primary printer and publisher was Joseph Rose Lemercier (1803-1887), whose Paris firm specialized in lithographic printing. Together, they collaborated with publishers throughout Europe to distribute Arnout’s scenes.
Reference; Princeton University Special Collections, accessed April 6, 2023 https://graphicarts.princeton.edu/2016/04/12/arnouts-views-made-from-a-balloon/
Rarity:
We were unable to trace previous copies of these engravings offered publicly, although the British Library and France’s National Library hold the images from this series. Arnout is not in Boutier’s Les Plans De Paris or Tooley’s Dictionary of Mapmakers.