ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib. - photo 1
ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib. - photo 2
ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib. - photo 3

ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib.

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£ 5 292
Auction dateClassic
21.10.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
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ID 829354
Lot 92 | ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib.
ASSELIN, Charles-Eloi (1742-1803), attrib.

Illustrated manuscript treatise on botanical painting, 'Traité de Fleurs', 1787.

In French, on paper. Title, armorial frontispiece with the Eden arms and motto 'Si sit prudentia', and 137 pages, 200 x 150mm, illustrated with 51 finely-executed miniatures of flowers. Contemporary mottled calf (upper cover detached).



Provenance: Presented to 'Madame Eden', i.e. Eleanor Eden (née Elliot, 1758-1818), wife of William, 1st Baron Auckland, British envoy in Paris; by descent to her daughter, Emily Eden (1797-1869, ownership inscription dated 'March 5th'); her great-niece Violet Dickinson (1865-1948, bookplate and ownership inscription recording gift from 'ELD', 1884), by whom presented to: Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (referred to in a letter by Violet Dickinson, 22 October 1941, 'I am so glad that little Asselin Book is finding a happy home with you').



A treatise on flower-painting, combined with an illustrated botanical catalogue. The 'Traité de Fleurs' opens with a dedication page to Eleanor Eden ('Dédié A Madame Eden Par son très humble et Très Respectueux Serviteur / Asselin / Peintre En Miniature'), a flattering preface, 'Réflections de L'Auteur', and an introduction, 'Avis Nécessaire a Lire', which includes instructions on the different paints to be bought and definitions of the different genres of painting, from frescoes and miniatures to pastel, oil and gouache, followed by more general advice on composition and technique. The remainder of the manuscript (from p.27) is taken up with an alphabetical catalogue of 51 flowers, 'Dénomination des Principales fleurs Par Lettres Alphabétiques', attractively illustrated by the artist.



The author has been identified as Charles-Eloi Asselin (1742-1803), one of the principal figure painters at the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. At the time of the presentation of the manuscript Eleanor Eden's husband, William Eden (later Baron Auckland), was British envoy to France, charged with negotiating a new commercial treaty between the two countries, and Eleanor was a significant client of the porcelain factory.





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No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Place of origin:Western Europe, France, Europe
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
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21.10.2022 – 21.10.2022
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