Instruction Du Roy Bayadere (L’)

Histoires De Carres > Spring - Summer 2021

L'Instruction du roy en l'exercice de monter a cheval (Instructing the King in the art of horse-riding) was the title given to the work by Antoine de Pluvinel, equerry to Louis XIII, King of France and King of Navarre. De Pluvinel understood, as early as the 17th century, that when training a horse, "kindness prevails over severity". He established a riding academy in Paris and wrote this book for the young king. It took the form of a dialogue and was illustrated with superb etchings by Crispijn de Passe. The book's final few plates notably describe the bits of fabric reins with braided edges: curves and voluts create a decorative design ornamented with the scrollwork  that was popular during the Grand Siecle. The design has been reworked in a bayadere version featuring wide block stripes and stripes in finesse.