View of the Cours in Marseille – 18th Century Hand-Colored Engraving by Daumont, Paris : This elegant hand-colored engraving, titled “Vue du Cours de Marseilles,” was published in Paris by Daumont on Rue Saint-Martin around 1760. It depicts one of the most fashionable promenades in 18th-century Marseille, known today as the Cours Belsunce or Cours Saint-Louis—broad, tree-lined avenues that became the social heart of the city during the Enlightenment era. The perspective view shows a grand boulevard lined with tall classical buildings and neatly planted rows of trees leading toward a monumental square in the distance. In the foreground, finely dressed figures in colorful period attire stroll and converse, their elegant manners contrasting with the geometric precision of the architecture. Carriages, gentlemen, and ladies in silk gowns animate the scene, creating a lively impression of Marseille’s prosperous and cosmopolitan society during the reign of Louis XV. The engraving was intended as a 'vue d’optique', a perspective print designed to be viewed through a special optical viewer (zograscope), which enhanced the illusion of depth. Daumont, one of Paris’s most prominent print publishers of the period, produced such hand-colored city views for an international audience fascinated by images of Europe’s great urban centers. The delicate pastel sky and vibrant palette—red, blue, and yellow—highlight the refinement typical of 18th-century French decorative art. Condition report: Very good condition with bright original hand coloring and a well-printed impression. Slight toning and light handling marks consistent with age, but the image remains crisp and lively. Visible plate mark all around. Framing tips: Ideal for a gilded or walnut frame with a cream or light blue mat to emphasize the elegance and colors of the composition. Floating the print allows the plate mark and publisher’s inscription to be fully visible. Technique: Hand-colored copper engraving (vue d’optique) Maker: Daumont, Paris, circa 1760