Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryTanner Greene
The collection is open for research use.
MSS 16429, Louis-Jacques Gossier drawing for the Encyclopédie, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
2019-0177, purchased 25 March 2019, Kerchof Library Fund, 2018/2019.
Louis-Jacques Goussier (1722-1799) was the first artist hired to work on the Encyclopédie in 1747, contributing seventy articles and the original drawings for nine-hundred plates. Goussier also directed draughtsmen working on other plates.
Source: Materials in collection.
The Louis-Jacques Gossier drawing for the Encyclopédie (circa 1769; 0.08 cubic foot) documents a rare original drawing for an illustration in the Encyclopédie by its most important and prolific draughtsman. This is the original for the workshop scene, the top section of "Hongroyeur," pl. III. In the engraving the plate has the legend, "Hongroyeur, l'Operation de mettre au Suif et Plan de l'Eture. (Tanner of Hungarian Leather, Operation of Tallowing and Plan of the Drying Room). Collection also contains three leaves of accompanying text and three leaves of printed images.