FLAMEN, Albert (c.1564-c.1650)

Diverses especes De POISSONS tant de Mer, que d’Eau douce.

Van Merlen, Paris, 1664. First Edition, 6 parts in 2 volumes (16.5 x 12.5 cm), with 67 engraved plates (22 x 15.5 cm) by Albert Flamen. A superb and COMPLETE SET OF ENGRAVINGS on large paper. Flamen used to first etch his plates and worked them afterwards lightly with a dry needle. The plates of this copy are carefully folded 'sur onglet' and beautifully bound in full blue morocco with gilt ornamental design on spine and inner dentelles. All edges gilt. Colourful marbled pastedowns, front and end papers. Latin and French names of fish and other aquatic animals are given below engravings.

The album is a MASTERPIECE OF ART. Complete albums of Flamen’s fish engravings are extremely rare.

Albert Flamen from Bruges was a painter, draughtsman and engraver of landscapes with fish. He worked in Paris from 1648 to 1669. His album Icones Diversorium Piscium !664 contains engravings resembling Collaert's compositions. Flamen, however, situated aquatic animals in realistic landscapes against a background of ditches, rivers, lakes and sea harbours. The scenes with fishermen, rowing boats, sailing ships, drift nets, seines, traps and fishing rods make clear that the artist was well acquainted with fishery. The Latin and French names of the species are often mentioned below the engravings. The images are original, realistic and authentic. Volume 1 POISSONS d’ EAU DOUCE. One engraved half-title, dedicated to Monsieur Foucquet, with entwined fresh-water fishes, being the first part of fresh-water fishes. Eleven engraved plates with still-lifes of freshwater-fishes and piscatory activities. One engraved half-title with a fish-harbour, being the second part of fresh-water fishes. Eleven engraved plates with still-lifes of fresh-water fishes and angling-scenes. Volume 2 POISSONS DE MER. One engraved half-title with entwined sea fishes, dedicated to Guillaume Tronson, with his coat-of-arms, being the first part of sea fishes. Eleven engraved plates with still-lifes of sea fishes, crabs and lobsters. One engraved half-title with entwined sea fishes and a harbour, being the second part of sea fishes. Eleven engraved plates (six of the first issue and five of the second issue) with still-lifes of sea fishes, crabs, turtles and fishermen. One engraved half-title dedicated to Guillaume Tronson, with a sea harbour and a whale, being the third part of sea fishes. Eleven engraved plates with still-lifes of sea fishes and fishermen. One engraved dedication leaf to the Marquis D'Illiers with his coat-of-arms against a harbour-scene with fishing boats. Six engraved plates with still-lifes of sea fishes and piscatory activities. References: Harvard Library, copy with only 11 engravings. British Museum, copy with 24 engravings. Leiden University Library, copy with 43 engravings. Provenance: Circular leather bookplate of the author Roger Paultre with his motto: “ Mihi hodie, cras tibi.” Pautry's private collection of books was auctioned at Drouot, Paris, on juillet 1993. The present copy (lot 108) was sold for Ff 40.000 (commission not included).

Price: € 12.500,00