[Manuscrit] - Carnet d’artiste, croquis de costumes anciens - 1850

[MANUSCRIPT AND ARTIST'S NOTEBOOK]

A historical studies and research notebook on costumes, armor, and types of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages.
19th century (circa 1850–1880).
A medium-format manuscript bound in greenish-blue marbled paper over boards, white vellum spine, secured by its original fabric laces. The volume comprises many sheets of laid paper filled with original drawings, preparatory sketches, and meticulous documentary studies.
A precious and fascinating working notebook or iconographic research notebook of a 19th-century artist, costumier, or scholar (likely inspired by the Romantic historicist movement, an interest in the “Troubadour” style, or historical staging work for theatre and opera).
The notebook opens with a drawing of an ornamental vase under the manuscript title “Costumes of the Middle Ages.” It contains an impressive series of plates and vignettes either pasted in or drawn directly with graphite and ink. Every figure is carefully documented and captioned in French or Latin (e.g.: “Vte de Neurenberg,” “Brabantes chlamydatus,” “Noble Anglais 16e siècle,” portraits of men in armor with morions, gentlemen with large feathered hats, princely silhouettes and medieval sovereigns annotated with dating references).
Original binding in its current condition, with wear to the boards and margins, the original fastening laces preserved. Overall healthy interior paper, alternating between expressive graphite sketches and finely executed black ink drawings. A premier artistic and documentary testimony of high order.