LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE (44) - "Château d'ANCENIS". 19th century. Original Sketch by Félix Benoist (1818-1896) in graphite on chine paper. PREPARATORY DRAWING for the lithograph entitled "Ancenis, Vieux Château", for the album "NANTES ET LA LOIRE-INFERIEURE" published in 1865 by Charpentier. Situated "Ch. d'Ancenis" in pencil at bottom left of subject. Annotated in pencil under the subject "take care of the background, make the suspension bridge and the river clearly visible, add effect". Other annotations for lithographers. And at the foot of the sheet "There is always cavalry in Ancenis. Mr. Bayot can make dragons on the 1st plan [...]". Provenance: Fonds of the Charpentier workshop run by Pierre-Henri (1788-1854) and his son Henri-Désiré (1806-1883), printers and publishers based in Paris, then in Nantes (from 1854). 27.5 x 35 cm. Condition A (small handling stains in margins, good condition).