[Statues et bustes antiques des maisons royales].

Claude Mellan, an engraver, painter and draughtsman from Abbeville, was appointed graveur ordinaire du Roi. He was commissionned to engrave the French royal collection of antique statues, a task that was continued from 1675 to 1681 by the engraver Etienne Baudet.
The plates bear captions in French, with translation in Latin. Plates [1-18] are signed by C. Mellan, plates [19-61] are signed by E. Baudet. The dates inscribed range from 1669 to 1681.
Title from: Préaud.
Estampes d'après l'antique, nos. 1-61
Préaud, M. Claude Mellan, nos. 231-248
BAC N7420 .S26c+: Imperfect: comprises the 18 plates by Mellan, lacking the plates by Baudet. Closely trimmed at top and bottom, with loss of captions. Bound with: Sandrart, Joachim von. Sculpturae veteris admiranda, sive, Delineatio vera perfectissimarum eminentissimarumque statuarum (Norimbergae : Christiani Sigismundi Frobergii, 1680). The volume bound in later red leather, stamped in gold on front covers with armorial of Mark Masterman Sykes, baronet, of Sledmere, beneath the initials S.M.M. Armorial bookplates: John, Duke of Bedford; "Du cabinet de [blank]".
A suite of prints showing statues and busts from the collection of Louis XIV at the Palais des Tuileries.