Early branches of the Mariette family moved in high social circles in France, including branches of the Charlet and Desmoulins families, who are both represented to a small extent in this collection. However, the principal Mariette line represented in these family papers can be traced to 1758 and the marriage of Antoinette Louise Desmoulins to Jean-Pierre Mariette (1725-1780), who was a descendant of a well-established Parisian family of printers, publishers and engravers. These included Pierre Mariette (1603-1657) who traded on the Ile du Palais and elsewhere in Paris. His son was likewise called Pierre Mariette (1634-1716) who bought the business from his father in 1657 for 30,000 livres. In turn, his son Jean Mariette (1660-1742) inherited the printing business from his father, and likewise passed it on to his own son Pierre Jean Mariette (1694-1774), who became a famous writer, art collector and engraver in his own right. His large art collection was dispersed in 1775 following his death, fetching over 350,000 livres. Later generations of the Mariette family continued to add to the family papers, which have survived in remarkably good condition and which were not scattered during the Revolution.
From the guide to the Mariette Family Papers, 1579-1859, (University of Exeter)
