J. A. Couture Sold at Auction Prices

Couture (Joseph Abel, 1732-1799) - Temple design, possibly intended to honour a royal marriage

pen and black ink, graphite, grey wash, heightened with white, on buff paper, signed and inscribed 'inventé et dessiné par Couture ainé' lower left, and 'Couture ainé inventé et [?]', with further inscription on reverse by a later hand that reads 'Collection Decout/ Mariage de Lo XVI?/ 1770', 350 x 500 mm., laid onto card support, some handling creases, minor scattered areas of abrasion, light browning and surface dirt Joseph Abel Couture, the older brother of Guillaume-Martin Couture, called "the Younger", (1732-1799), was a student of Le Carpentier (1709-1773) and was involved with many of his projects. Le Carpentier recommended Couture in 1766 to Charles Legendre Villemorien, follwing his purchase of the castle of Valençay, following which Couture succesfully established himself in his own right. He went on to succeed Le Carpentier as the architect in charge of The Paris Court House, and worked for Louis XVI during his reign.