Rare- 1761 Miscellaneous Works of Grécourt, In French. These books contain a mixture of poetry and fables! They are a smaller set of books, full leather with red page ends… I love the worn look of these, they bring so much texture and warmth to a shelf! These would also look amazing in a jardiniere! Overall they are in great condition for their age.. they are also filled with some unique details or little vignettes… just beautiful! 🥹
Grécourt came from a family of Scottish origin, one noble but without fortune. He was the son of Jean Baptiste Willart, lord of Grécourt, advisor to the king, who was appointed grenetier of the salt granary of Tours in August 1673, and Anne Orceau of the Orceau family. Grécourt himself studied in Paris under the direction of his ecclesiastical uncle, Germaine Willart, whose credit got him the title of canon of Saint-Martin de Tours in 1697, when he was 13 or 14 years old. A relative of his named M. Rouillé resigned from the position so that Grécourt could take it.
Epicurean, lover of pretty women and good food, he composed many licentious tales and poems, often libertine, among which there is a long poem against the Jesuits titled Philotanus, burlesque pieces, epistles, fables, tales, epigrams, madrigals. He refrained from having them printed but circulated them secretly, giving extracts in selected circles, because he read, it seems, in an incomparable manner. Although he didn’t usually write them down himself, others would write down what they remembered, like with Philotanus prior to its publication. Others compiled his poems and works themselves after his death.
