Germain Brice

The cosmopolitan Brice soon came into contact with foreign visitors to Paris, to whom he not only taught the French language, but also introduced them to the city's architectural and artistic sights through walks.

Through self-study, he acquired in-depth knowledge of his hometown and the artists, architects, writers and public figures who made up the greatness of the city of Paris.

Part of the success was certainly the beautiful copperplate engravings that Brice incorporated into his travel guide from the fifth edition (1706) to illustrate the text.

And also after Brice's first publication, it was Charles Le Maire with his book Paris ancient et nouveau – Ouvrage très curieux ou l'on voit la fondation, les accroissemens, le nombre des habitants, & des Maisons de cette grand Ville, published in 1685, who wrote a book in a similar style.

In comparison to Brice, Thiéry does not mention the external architectural features of the Baron de Besenval's residence at all.

[7][8] By comparing the three similar publications by Germain Brice, Jacques du Breul and Charles Le Maire, the writer Michel Félibien, author of the five-volume Histoire de la Ville de Paris, points out: "Germain Brice is more brilliant and active than the other two."

"[6] Brice was constantly wandering around the city, visiting the most iconic locations, but also observing construction sites and talking to architects and building contractors.

Brice included both of these remarkable and still existing hôtels particuliers in the seventh edition of his travel guide, published in 1717.

[9][8][10] From the very beginning, Brice knew how to include in his publication those sights and inside stories that aroused great interest among his readers.

Germain Brice: Description de la ville de Paris et de tout ce qu'elle contient de plus remarquable , the three volumes of the seventh edition, published in 1717.
View of Paris from the Pont Royal with the Seine and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in the distance in Germain Brice's travel guide, seventh edition, published in 1717.
The Hôtel Royale des Invalides in Germain Brice's travel guide, seventh edition, published in 1717.
The Hôtel de Soubise in Germain Brice's travel guide, seventh edition, published in 1717.
The page after the frontispiece of the seventh edition of Germain Brice's travel guide, published in 1717. This is a special print of this edition. It is dedicated to August Wilhelm, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and shows the coat of arms of the ducal house of the Herzogtum Braunschweig-Lüneburg .