L'art de desssiner au pinceau. La Rochelle

4to.  220 x 180 mm., [8 ¾ x 7 ¼ inches].  Manuscript on paper in two hands, both highly legible.  32 leaves of text on lightly tinted blue paper of a high quality.  One drawing in the text.  Stitched as issued, original coated paper wrappers of binder's waste from an almanack dated 1786; edges a bit curled, a small piece of wrapper missing at front top margin; upper corner of about half the sheets is stained. 

Front cover with title and name "de Mme. L. L. De Villedon/ Rochelle/1783."

Entitled "Ecole de Mignatures" (School of Minatures), the manuscript begins with a list of 23 colors that are used in the artform and moves on to instructions on drawing in miniatures techniques for forming the head, the mouth and hair.  She also adds techniques for adding landscape if part of the picture.  This, perhaps the most detailed part of the manuscripts focuses on the sky and the various colors used to reflect the time of day, trees, and ways of composing a chateau in the background.  The second part deals with flowers and plants, followed by techniques for doing interiors of house, furniture, draperies, and wall coverings.  This is followed by focus on the human body.  The final six leaves, in a different hand focuses on oil painting, fixing colors, and a final page with methods for creating fresco painting.

Although little information on the life of Mme. De Villedon has been discovered, the fact that she specialized in miniature paintings is completely consistent with the areas of expertise women excelled in during the 18th century.  This manual, rare in its content and highly legible, is a gateway into the world of women miniature painters and the techniques that were passed along from generation to generation.  With faults a wonderful survival. (1178)