Colin, H. (active c.1674; French)
Sortie de la Garnison de Dole (from Les Grandes Conquêtes du Roi (before 1685)
Engraving
Gift of George Collins Levey 1879
National Gallery of Victoria (p.183.149-1)
= Levey gift, cat.no.151
This print was one of several by various artists completed by 1685 and incorporated into the larger series of 40 military triumphs supervised by Le Clerc in the later 1680s: refer separate entries; see also Châtillon 14 engravings from Les Grandes Conquêtes du Roi {1879} NGV [PR].
The present engraving is signed by the engraver, about whom very little appears to be known.
The event depicted, as the inscription explains, relates to Louis XIV’s victory over the Eastern French region of Franche-Comté in 1674, and specifically to the conquest of Dole, then the capital of the region (subsequently transferred to Besançon). For the festivities at Versailles following the conquest of Franche-Comté, see Le Pautre (J.) & Chauveau Divertissements de Versailles… 1674 {1879} NGV [PR].
Refs.
Not listed in NGV 1894 or 1905
See https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/38677/ (not reproduced). Cf. Suite et Arrangement (1727), p.19; and www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/joconde_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=M0347001283 (impression in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dole, inv.no.523; with reproduction)
AKL 20 (1998), p.255, lists various artists called Colin or Collin, but none have the first initial H; the most relevant individuals listed appear to be Jean Colin [Collin] the Elder (c.1623-1701) and his son Jean the Younger (c.1656-1703). Bénézit has only sketchy details of no real use here