Source: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, F5001 (171)
Citation:
Privilege du Roy [Charles Le Brun], Paris (1656), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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Translation
Royal Privilege
Louis, by the Grace of God, King of France and of Navarre: To our beloved and loyal councillors, those men handling our court at the Parlement in Paris, the petitions to our hôtel and palace, our bailiffs, stewards, or their lieutenants, and all our other concerned officers and justices, salutations. Having been made fully aware of the reputation that our dear and beloved Charles Le Brun, Rector of our Academy of Painting and Sculpture had forged for himself by long and painful study, we have claimed and retained him in the charge of our Painter in ordinary, a charge he fulfils daily to our satisfaction and that of the public. And since there is a very notable interest in preserving this reputation that has travelled as far as foreign provinces, and that bad copies of his most excellent works, whose happy expressions inspire devotion in churches and serve as decoration in our palaces, could diminish or destroy it, unless such copies not expressly permitted by the said Le Brun were forbidden; he has very humbly begged us to provide the necessary Letters. Therefore, wishing to treat him favourably, recognising his services to us and to the public and wanting to oblige him to continue. We have permitted and permit him to have his works copied and reproduced by persons of his choice, and we very expressly prohibit and forbid in future all other printmakers and carvers, both our subjects and foreigners, who trade in our kingdom, and all other persons of whatever quality or status, to copy, engrave, or offer for sale the works of the said Le Brun, under whatever disguise, on pain of confiscation of these copies and a fine of fifteen hundred livres, payable half in support of the poor, and half to Le Brun, and with costs, fines and interests assigned in cases of actual contravention. We permit Le Brun to initiate seizure of these copies to the end of having them broken, struck, and suppressed and to proceed against offenders as he wills. So, we summon you, all and individually, and enjoining you that by our present privilege and its contents, you allow and suffer the said Le Brun to enjoy it fully and in peace. Further, we summon on this matter our first court usher or sergeant to assume responsibility for the entire execution of these present, for the summons, seizures and other acts necessary for its execution. We give him the necessary authority without further ado. For this is our pleasure. Given in [Paris] the [eighth day of May] in the year of Our Lord, sixteen hundred and fifty-six and the thirteenth year of our reign.
By the King.
Transcription
PRIVILEGE DU ROY
LOUYS PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU, ROY DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE: A nos amez & feaux, Conseillers les gens tenans nostre Cour de Parlement à Paris, Requestes de nostre Hostel & de nostre Palais, Baillifs, Senechaux, ou leurs Lieutenants, & à tous nos autres Officiers & Iusticiers qu’il appartiendra, SALUT. Ayant esté bien informé que nostre cher & bien Amé CHARLES LE BRUN, Recteur de nostre Académie de Peinture & Sculpture, s’est acquis par de longues & penibles experiences beaucoup de reputation dans lesdits Arts, Nous l’aurions retenu en l’estat & Charge de nostre Peintre ordinaire, laquelle il exerce iournellement à nostre satisfaction & celled du public, & comme il est tres-notable interest de se concerver cette estime, qui a passé iusques dans les Provinces estrangeres, & que par les mauvaises copies que l’on tire de ses plus excellens ouvrages, dont les heureuses expressions attirent la devotion dans les Eglises, & servent d’ornement dans nos Palais, pourroient la luy diminuer ou faire perdre, s’il n’estoit deffendu à toutes personnes de les copier, sans la permission dudit le BRUN; Il nous à tres-humblement fait supplier luy pourvoir de nos Lettres à ce necessaires. A CES CAUSES, le voulans favorablement traitter & reconnoistre les services qu’il nous rend & au public, & l’obliger de les continuer. Nous luy avons permis & permettons de faire copier & graver ses ouvrages par telles personnes que bon luy semblera, faisans tres-expresses inhibitions & defences à tous autres Graveurs, Sculpteurs, tant de nos sujets qu’etrangers qui trafiquent dans nostre Royaume, & à toutes autres personnes de quelque qualité & condition qu’elles soient, de copier ou graver à l’advenir, ny d’exposer en vente les ouvrages dudit le BRUN, souz quelque déguisement que ce soit, à peine de confiscation d’iceux, de quinze cens livres d’amende, appliquable moitié aux pauvres, & l’autre moitié audit le BRUN, & de tous d’espens, dommages, & interests, & en ce cas de contravention, permettons audit le BRUN de faire proceder par voye de saisie sur lesdits ouvrages pour estre rompus, biffer, & supprimez, & proceder contre les contrevenans ainsi qu’il appartiendra, SI VOUS MANDONS & à chacun de vous, enioignons que de nostre present privilege & du contenu en iceluy, vous fassiez & & souffriez iouyr ledit le BRUN plainement & paisiblement, mandons en outre au premier nostre Huissier ou Sergent sur ce requis, faire pour l’entiere execution des presents, tous exploits, saisies, & autres Actes requis & necessaires de ce faire. luy donnons pouvoir sans pour ce demander autre permission. CAR TEL EST NOSTRE PLAISIR. Donné à [Paris] le [huitième jour de may], l’an de grace mil six cent cinquante six. Et de nostre regne le tresieme.
Par le Roy.