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Large Picture containing Six Different Engravings of Grouping of Birds
$3,000
£2,277.15
€2,611.32
CA$4,234.48
A$4,545.32
CHF 2,420.15
MX$53,834.23
NOK 30,584.09
SEK 27,931.81
DKK 19,507.78
About the Item
The Avian Wonders: Engravings from Buffon's Histoire Naturelle, Ornithologie
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This meticulously presented artwork is a large picture containing six individual, hand-colored engravings drawn from the monumental scientific work of the Enlightenment, Histoire Naturelle, générale et particulière, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi, authored primarily by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
Description and Attribution
Medium: Engravings (Hand-colored, as is typical of the period). Source: Histoire Naturelle, Ornithologie (Natural History, Ornithology section). Author: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707–1788). Period: Circa 1770–1783.
The artwork features six distinct ornithological plates, each a complete engraving showcasing a grouping of exotic and native bird species. Each plate is a testament to the scientific rigor and artistic quality of the original publication, noted by the inclusion of its original page number and the signature of the engraver or director, such as Bernard Direxit or Scattaglia dir.
The composition, with its assemblage of multiple framed plates, maximizes the visual impact and illustrative diversity of Buffon's groundbreaking work. The vibrant plumage, meticulously rendered through hand-coloring, highlights the era's dedication to both scientific accuracy and aesthetic presentation.
Historical Context: The Enlightenment and Natural History
These engravings are not merely decorative art; they are artifacts of the French Enlightenment and the golden age of natural history.
• Buffon's Monument: The Histoire Naturelle was one of the greatest encyclopedic projects of the 18th century, comparable in scope and success to Diderot’s Encyclopédie. First appearing in 1749, the work grew to 36 volumes during Buffon’s lifetime and continued after his death, covering everything known of the natural world.
• The Ornithology Volumes: The nine volumes dedicated to birds (Ornithologie) were published between 1770 and 1783. This section, under Buffon’s directorship of the Jardin du Roi (now Jardin des Plantes), compiled and illustrated global bird species, providing a comprehensive, systematic account for the first time.
• Scientific and Artistic Collaboration: The creation of these plates required a massive collaboration between naturalists, draftsmen, and master engravers. The inclusion of the signatures (e.g., Bernard Direxit or Scattaglia dir.) acknowledges the crucial role of the artists and engravers who translated the scientific observations into highly detailed and influential images.
• Influence: Buffon's work profoundly influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier. As Ernst Mayr noted, "Truly, Buffon was the father of all thought in natural history in the second half of the 18th century." The engravings, therefore, represent the visual foundation of modern ornithology and evolutionary thought.
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References
• Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de. Histoire Naturelle, générale et particulière, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi. Paris, 1749–1804.
• Mayr, Ernst. The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance. Harvard University Press, 1982. (On Buffon's influence).
(Ref: NY10191-amrx)
- Creator:Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 28.25 in (71.76 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
- Style:Georgian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1780-1789
- Date of Manufacture:1783
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Downingtown, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: NY10191-amrr1stDibs: LU861032457272
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French: 7 September 1707 – 16 April 1788) was a French naturalist, mathematician, cosmologist, and encyclopédiste. His works influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including two prominent French scientists Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier. Buffon published thirty-six quarto volumes of his "Histoire Naturelle" during his lifetime, with additional volumes based on his notes and further research being published in the two decades following his death. Ernst Mayr wrote that "Truly, Buffon was the father of all thought in natural history in the second half of the 18th century". Buffon held the position of intendant (director) at the Jardin du Roi, now called the Jardin des Plantes.
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