Pluvinel Art of Horsemanship, hand-coloured print.

by Pluvinel, Antoine de

Rare hand-coloured reproduction print of 16th century Horsemanship.

Reproduced from a copperplate engraving with added woodcut architectural border by Flemish artist Crispijn van de Passe the younger, for an important publication on equestrian dressage by Antoine de Pluvinel (1555-1620) published by Van de Passe and the royal valet de chambre J.D. Peyrol. The slightly smaller first edition was published (unedited) in Paris circa 1623 as Le Maneige Royal, and in 1625 after editing by Pluvinel's friend Menou de Charniz for L'Instruction du Roy en l'exercice de monter à cheval (The Instruction of the King in the exercise of mounting and riding a horse). This popular work was re-printed several times since and translated into several languages. This print is from the larger 1709 edition.  

At the age of 11, Pluvinel was taken to Italy to study horsemanship under the celebrated Italian riding master Giovanni Battista Pignatelli. In 1594 he founded the French school of horsemanship, the Academie d’Equitation, near what is now Place des Pyramides.

Size: 38 x 48cm (15 x 19 inches).