One of five volumes of "Plans des maisons royales", ca. 1747-ca. 1749. These volumes of architectural plans of the French royal palaces were made for Abel Franc̜ois Poisson, the future Marquis de Marigny, brother of Mme de Pompadour, as part of his preparation for the post of Director General of the Royal Buildings. The first two volumes are devoted to Paris (Acc. Nos. 1955.11-1955.12), the third to Fontainebleau (Acc. No. 1956.31), the fourth, Versailles (Acc. No. 1956.30), and the fifth to Marly (Acc. No. 1957.19).
The present volume, relating to Marly, is the only dated one in the series, as the inscription "A Versailles le 15 Mars 1747" appears on its decorated manuscript title page. This elaborate title page is rendered in pink, blue-green, and yellow watercolors, and the plans include the elevation of the Château from the St. Germain side. This is the only drawing in the five volumes which is not a ground plan.
Marigny, Abel François Poisson, Marquis de, 1727-1781, former owner.
Hughes, Henry, Colonel, former owner.
Morgan, Jane Norton, 1868-1925, former owner.
Morgan, Henry S. (Henry Sturgis), 1900-1982, former owner.
Morgan, Junius Spencer, former owner.
Adams, Frederick B., Jr., comp. Ninth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1958 & 1959. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1959, p. 103.
Pierpont Morgan Library. Review of Acquisitions, 1949-1968. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1969, p. 146.
Denison, Cara D. French Drawings, 1550-1825. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984, no. 124.