CANDEILLE (Amélie Julie). Agnes of France, or the twelfth century. Historical novel. Paris : Maradan, 1821. - 3 volumes in-8, 203 x 124 : frontispiece, (vj pp.), (1 f. of errata), pp. (vij)-x, 248 pp. ; (2 ff.), 325 pp. ; (2 ff.), 349 pp. White calf, gilt and cold rolled, and ink fillet framing the boards, gilt arms in the center, spine gilt, inner gilt roll, edges gilt (Doll). Rare first edition dedicated to the duchess Claire de Duras (1777-1828), of this historical novel by Julie Candeille (1767-1834), actress of the Comédie-Française, musician, author and playwright. It is illustrated with a frontispiece engraved by Adam after a drawing by the famous painter Anne-Louis Girodet. Julie Candeille and the latter were close friends, the actress having had a decisive place in the career of the painter. "An analysis of the hundreds of letters exchanged between these two leading figures shows that Julie Candeille was both a critical collaborator and a passionate defender of the painter's work, a wise advisor and a devious agent, an astute critic and a devoted historian of the artist. In fact, she contributed considerably to the shaping of the painter's figure and associated herself in many ways with his work." (Jensen, When the Muse Speaks: Julie Candeille on the Art of Girodet, 2012). A DEDICATION COPY WITH THE ARMS OF AMEDIA-BRETAGNE-MALO DE DURFORT, DUC DE DURAS (1771-1838) who was none other than the husband of Claire de Duras, dedicatee of the work, author of the famous novel Ourika. It is printed on fine vellum paper. The binding is signed by the Parisian bookbinder Doll who was a worker at Bozérian and who worked notably for Napoleon I and for Queen Marie-Amélie. Rubbing from use to the binding. Some foxing. Provenance: Claire de Duras, with the arms of her husband on the boards.