DOUJAT Jean Eloges des personnes illustres de l’Ancien Testament, pour donner quelque teinture de l’histoire sacrée. A l’usage de Monseigneur le duc de Bourgogne.

Cioranescu, 26110; OHR, 2523.

First edition. A magnificent copy in contemporary colouring heightened with gold.

Jean Doujat, lawyer at the parliament of Toulouse and Paris and member of the Académie Française, had been commissioned by Louis de France, called ‘Le Grand Dauphin’ – he was the eldest son if Louis XIV and the heir apparent to the French throne – to instruct and teach his son, Louis duke of Burgundy (1682-1712). It was for his noble pupil, that Doujat composed this book, “en souvenir de l’honneur que j’avois eu il y a vingt ans de contribuer quelque chose aux premières estudes de ce digne héritier“.

The book is illustrated by 54 engraved portrait medallions, each embellished by a symbol relative to the person depicted: an apple for Adam, an arc for Noah, the whale for Jonas, etc. thus forming a very charming emblem book. The portraits are accompanied by a text written in verses and giving biographical details on the personalities from the Old Testament.

Illuminated copy

Exceptional copy with the title page and the engravings coloured and heightened with gold at the time. It is preserved in a luxurious contemporary biding decorated with the coat of arms of Marie-Anne of Bavaria, the mother of Louis of Burgundy, for who this book was written. Louis de France had married the Bavarian princesse, his second cousin, in 1680 and they had three children: Louis de France, Duke of Burgundy, Philippe de France, Duke of Anjou, and Charles de France, Duke of Berry.

Some occasional spotting, some light thumbing to title. Signature “Vienot” on the title.