March 1777 365enlightened people, to contribute to the glory of the nation by
monuments that perpetuate the memory of virtuous actions,
useful works & celebrated men: these same arts contributed
in addition to the advantage as well as to the perfection of most
of the industrial arts, and extend and make prosper several
branches of trade. It is for these reasons that, transported
from Italy to France by Francis I, they have since been cherished,
and made a particular object of protection by most of the
kings, our predecessors, & especially Louis XIV & Louis XV,
our highly honoured lord & grandfather of glorious memory.
As a consequence of this protection & of the encouragement
they have received, these noble arts have increasingly perfected
themselves, and have spread throughout our kingdom; they
have produced a very great number of monuments & works
which attest to their progress, and have served to embellish
our capital, our principal towns & our royal houses. These
advantages should have assured painting and sculpture a
particular distinction, and should have permitted those who
exercise them to enjoy the same rights that those who make
a profession of the liberal arts enjoy; which is why in our
edict of the month of August last by which we created anew
the corporations of arts and trade, we already made known
that the arts of painting and sculpture are not to be confused
with the mechanical arts, & we gave them back that
freedom which they should always have enjoyed.
Nevertheless, the concern we have for everything that can
encourage or do honour to such worthy and useful arts,
as well as anything that can contribute to the prosperity of
our peoples, has made us judge worthy of our attention
to express more clearly our will on this subject, & to
grant these arts particular distinctions and encouragements
likely to lead them to their fulfilment and perfection.
Wanting thus especially to protect those of our
subjects who cultivate & will cultivate the said arts
of painting and sculpture as liberal arts and to bring
them to renewed efforts to merit favours by the
honourable employment of their talents, we