Michel de Marolles (22 July 1600, Genillé - 6 March 1681, Paris), known as the abbé de Marolles, was a French churchman and translator, known for his collection of old master prints. He became a monk in 1610 and later was Abbot of Villeloin (1626–1674). He was the author of many translations of Latin poets and was part of many salons, notably that of Madeleine de Scudéry. He is best known for having collected 123,000 prints (bought from him in 1667 by Colbert for Louis XIV for 28,000 livres) - this acquisition is considered the foundation of the cabinet of prints in the royal library, though it was only constituted as a department in 1720.

Publications

Abbé de Marolles is the author of the earliest printed rules for the game of Tarot. They were new rules for the game created by Princess Marie-Louise of Gonzague-Nevers, later Queen of Poland, and were published in Nevers in 1637.

Translations

Prints

Histories and other