Des decorations funebres. Ou il est amplement traité des tentures, des lumières, des mausolées, catafalques, inscriptions, & autres ornements funèbres

First edition, rare, and illustrated with numerous woodcuts in the text including 11 vignettes, one large figure (p.179), 4 coats of arms and 14 miniature portraits.

Copy with 19th-century armorial binding of Baron Pavée de Vendeuvre, with his motto: Ardeo persevero spero.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated. Brown sheep title label. Head restored with tooling renewed, several restorations to joints. Upper joint cracked at head. Numerous pagination errors.
The purpose of this study is to elevate funeral ceremonies to the level of fine arts practice in France. As a first example, Ménestrier describes the funeral rites of Queen Marie-Thérèse of Austria at Saint-Denis, then funeral ceremonies among various peoples. The author provides information on what should be done regarding epitaphs, decorations, what music may be played... and gives extensive details on the possibilities of funeral staging. He also treats emblems, coats of arms...