Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (Paris, 1724-1780) was "never seen without a pencil in his hand, intent in sketching all that appeared in front of his eyes." His Livre de Croquis (sketchbook )is a veritable chronicle of Parisian life in the 18th century. Compiled between 1760 and 1778 it contains views of the streets and monuments of the ville lumiere, scenes at the theatre or of a grand ball, portraits of young workers writing, sewing or playing an instrument. Saint-Aubin's minute annotations are deciphered and explained in the commentary volume. The sketchbook, acquired from the heirs of Saint-Aubin, was guarded jealously in a private collection - and was, therefore, almost unknown - until 1941 when it was acquired by the Louvre. It has never before been reproduced in its entirety.