Femmes de Frascati en habit de parure

An original hand-coloured engraving designed by Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur and engraved by Labrousse, From a late eighteenth century publication entitled, Costumes de Different Pays.
Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur both wrote the text and designed the engravings.

He was actually born in Montreal, Quebec but went to live in Paris when New France was surrendered to the British. A late eighteenth and early nineteenth century French (Canadian) artist, writer and diplomat, Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur left Montreal in 1764 and began his studies with the Jesuits of Sainte-Barbe, in Paris. His first published book, Costumes civils de tous les peoples connus, dates from 1784.

It deals with his lifelong passion of chronicling the peoples of other lands, particularly in remote areas. His other works include, Tableaux cosmographiques de l'Europe, l'Asie, l'Afrique et l'Amerique (1787), L'Antique Rome (1795), Encyclopedie des voyages (1796), and Voyage picturesque dans les autres parties du monde (1806). Groenlandais (Native of Greenland) was engraved by Labrousse for the c. 1797 publication, Costumes de different pays. Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur both designed the engravings and wrote the text for all of these publications.

Of the engraver, Labrousse, little is known, except in relation to his engravings for Grasset de Saint-Sauveur. Besides being an artist and writer Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur also led an active diplomatic career. He served as France's vice-consul in Hungary and elsewhere.
Printed late eighteenth century laid paper and with full margins as published in Paris around 1797. A finely printed impression with original, period colours and in excellent condition throughout.