Vue du château et jardin de Versailles

Translated Print Title: 
[View of the Palace and Garden of Versailles]
Series/Book Title: 
La Description du château de Versailles
Publisher: 
Paris: Antoine Vilette
Date(s): 
1694

The first official guidebook to Versailles was published in 1674 by André Félibien, royal historiographer of buildings, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and festivals. Although the rapid transformation of the palace and gardens soon rendered Félibien’s “summary description” outdated, it was liberally recycled in many later editions, such as this one, which added some text as well as simple illustrations.

Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology.