Paragon un Barbe -A General System of Horsemanship ( 1658 )

Paragon un Barbe Pl. 6 from ” A General System of Horsemanship in All Its Branches ” ( La Methode et Invention nouvelle de Dresser les chavaux ) written by William Cavendish 1st Duke of Newcastle -upon-Tyne . Published in French in 1658 ,  engraved by Pieter Van Lisebetten   (1630 -1678 )  from commissioned paintings by Flemish painter Abraham van Diepenbeeck   (1596 -1675 )  an assistant to Peter Paul Rubens. PLATE 6 shows Paragon, an equestrian breed Barbary horse being held by his groom in front of the Cavendish’s Country Estate Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire England. First published in 1658 and illustrated with 42 engravings  A General System of Horsemanship is the result of years of work on equestrian training techniques he developed at  his  ” manege”  (high riding school)  in Antwerp with several Barbary horses he obtained in Paris. This treatise is considered one of the finest seventeenth illustrated books of horses. Paragon un Barbe is an original 1658 plate signed copper engraving with a short marginal tear on left edge, center fold as issued and otherwise in excellent condition.