About this sheet
This finely executed original antique copperplate engraving combines two elegant views of the Palace of Saint-Cloud, depicting the formal gardens and the grand vestibule overlooking the palace grounds. The upper view illustrates the beautifully landscaped parterres with fountains, tree-lined avenues, and symmetrical garden design, while the lower view presents the monumental vestibule framed by classical columns, offering a magnificent perspective across the royal gardens.
The Château de Saint-Cloud was among the finest royal residences in France, serving the Bourbon monarchy before becoming one of Napoleon Bonaparte's preferred palaces. Celebrated for its architecture and extensive formal gardens, the estate represented one of the greatest achievements of French landscape design until its destruction during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
The engraving was created by the distinguished French architect and engraver Louis-Pierre Baltard (1764–1846) and published in Paris in 1803 as part of the celebrated Napoleonic-era publication Paris et ses Monuments, mesurés, dessinés et gravés. This monumental work documented France's most important architectural landmarks through meticulously engraved copperplates of exceptional artistic and architectural quality.
The combination of two complementary architectural views on a single plate makes this engraving particularly decorative while preserving an invaluable visual record of one of France's lost royal palaces.
This is an original antique engraving printed in 1803 and not a later reproduction. It is offered unframed. Any framed images are shown for presentation purposes only.
Year:
1803
Maker:
Louis-Pierre Baltard (1764–1846)
Publisher:
Paris
Origin:
France
Technique:
Original copperplate engraving on laid paper
Condition:
Good antique condition with age-related toning, scattered foxing, and light wear consistent with age. Please examine the photographs carefully.
Materials:
Paper, black ink
Style:
Neoclassical, Architectural, Landscape
Subject:
Gardens and vestibule of the Palace of Saint-Cloud
Keywords:
Louis-Pierre Baltard, Château de Saint-Cloud, Saint-Cloud Palace, French garden, palace gardens, vestibule, architectural engraving, antique print, copperplate engraving, Paris et ses Monuments, French architecture, Napoleonic France, royal residence, formal gardens, landscape design, River Seine, Grand Tour, original antique print, 1803, French decor, wall art