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to the book of parrot species that was published in 1805 can be verified,
as the second volume of Francois Levaillant’s “Histoire naturelles des
perroquets” was in fact printed in Paris in 1805. Moreover, the illustra-
tions by Jacques Barraband match the depictions of parrots on the
service perfectly, apart from slight variations in the colouring and minor
details (Barraband mainly drew gnarled branches, while the Manufak-
tur Nymphenburg added leaves in most cases). The following quotation
illustrates the high esteem in which Napoleon held Levaillant’s work:
“After he had made himself Emperor, it was part of Napoleon’s deliber-
ate policy to initiate a series of magnificent publications that would vie
with those undertaken on the orders of Louis XIV. These were sent as
presents to crowned heads, men of science, and learned bodies, in
evidence of the splendours of the Empire [...]. The works of Levaillant
owe their sumptous character to [...] this impetus. His Histoire naturelle
des perroquets is, unwittingly, a part of the glories of Napoleonic
France”,
C
f
.
Fine Bird Books, p. 90.
246343
I -
€ 25.000
faktur Nymphenburg to produce this service as a gift for a friend of
his, a physician and fellow ornithologist, based on this reference work.
The King’s passion for ornithology was not least reflected in the
construction of the menagerie in Nymphenburg, where he also kept
parrots; this is borne out by the picture of a macaw in the menagerie,
painted by Philippe Leclerc in 1813, which is in the Staatliche
Graphische Sammlung in Munich.
Francois Levaillant (1753 - 1824) was a French author, scientist and
ornithologist. His numerous ornithological works are regarded as
groundbreaking; in the process, he disregarded biological nomen
clature and only assigned French names.
Jacques Barraband (approx. 1767 - 1809) was an important illustrator
of zoological and botanical works. His naturalistic drawings are con
sidered the most accurate of the 18th century.
P
rovenance
:
Acquired by the consignor during the 1970s from a
descendant of the physician and ornithologist who had been a friend of
the King’s; however, the provenance of this service was passed on
without disclosing the name. At any rate, the part of the account relating
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