Frontispiece to Les Plaisirs de l'Isle enchantée ou Les Festes et divertissements du Roy à Versailles [The Pleasures of the Enchanted Isle or The Celebrations and Entertainments of the King at Versailles]

Louis XIV’s royal fêtes often continued for several days and included theatrical performances, processions of the King with his knights and other members of the royal family, boat races, and even fireworks. One of the most spectacular of these fêtes was in 1664. Israël Silvestre, a printmaker as well as print publisher, made a series of prints celebrating these events. For the frontispiece, Jean Lepautre contributed a decorative border that includes the arms of France at top center. Lepautre’s fantastic ornament, festooned with garlands held together by putti, stands in sharp contrast with Silvestre’s lean view of Versailles in the background. These two artists collaborated often on the execution of plates and in business — Silvestre published many of Lepautre’s prints.