1875 Woodcut Alphonse Neuville Pierre Corneille Oration Sun King Louis XIV XEA6

This is an original 1875 black and white woodcut of an illustration by French artist Alphonse de Neuville, which depicts playwright Pierre Corneille reading aloud to King Louis XIV. Corneille's Le Cid was one of the brilliant works of the 17th century, and in its wake, salons and their aristocracy were able to fill afternoons idly chattering about the controversies concealed within it.

CONDITION

This 136+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine. Light aging throughout. Light wrinkling. No natural defects.No surface rub.No tears. No water damage.

• Product Type: Original Woodcut; Black / White
• Grade: Near Mint / Very Fine
• Dimensions: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches; 14 x 9 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

This image was selected from a collection of woodcuts and steel engravings prolifically depicting scenes from French history, ranging from ancient Gaul to Charlemagne and his wars, to Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette. Historically important for French archivists, these images are extremely rare to locate and are virtually unseen individually. Period Paper is pleased to present these beautifully preserved images, which would make an ideal addition to any French lover's collection. To view more images from this portfolio, please click on the link offered below the condition paragraph.

This piece was illustrated by De Neuville, Alphonse. There is no visible artist signature.

De Neuvile, Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe

Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville (1835 _ 1885) was a French painter who specialized in very patriotic historical scenes with subjects such as the Franco-Prussian War, the Crimean War and the Zulu War. He originally joined the naval school in Lorient, France, but he soon realized that his primary passion was art. After his death, several of his pieces were acquired for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris.

Keywords specific to this image: costume, writer, storyteller

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