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Powerful 18th-Century Bison Portrait – Hand-Coloured Buffon Print
$378.84
£283.02
€320
CA$527.51
A$566.78
CHF 304.08
MX$6,677.33
About the Item
Antique Buffalo Engraving, Buffon Hand-Coloured Print Amsterdam 1769
This handsome hand-coloured 18th-century engraving of the buffalo, titled Le Buffle, comes from the rare Dutch edition of Buffon’s celebrated Histoire Naturelle, published in Amsterdam by J.H. Schneider in 1769. Appearing as Plate XXV in Tome XI, the image was drawn by Jacques de Sève, Buffon’s principal illustrator, and engraved by C.J. Fritsch. The plate is one of the most appealing large mammal portraits in the Buffon series, notable for its expressive character, fine engraving, and warm, atmospheric colouring.
The buffalo stands in full profile on a grassy bank beneath a soft blue sky. Its muscular body, thick neck, and distinctive curved horns are rendered with precise cross-hatching, highlighting both strength and powerful form. The shaggy hair around the head and chest is drawn with exceptional sensitivity, giving the animal a lively, alert presence. Behind the buffalo, a distant landscape shows classical buildings, rolling hills, and soft vegetation—an elegant composition typical of de Sève, who often placed his subjects in idealised settings to evoke the exotic nature of these animals for 18th-century European audiences.
Hand colouring in the Schneider edition is among the finest of all Buffon printings. The warm browns of the buffalo’s coat, subtly blended into lighter highlights, contrast beautifully with the green-yellow ground and the pale sky. The plate retains its full border and wide margins, enhancing its decorative presence. As a species, the buffalo fascinated early naturalists for its strength, utility, and significance in agriculture and transport across Asia and Africa. Buffon’s engraving captures both the majesty and grounded realism of the animal, making this plate especially desirable among collectors of natural history.
More than 250 years old, this engraving remains fresh and visually striking. It pairs excellently with related Buffon plates such as the ox, yak, camel, or other large quadrupeds, but also stands strongly as a single feature piece in modern interiors. Its warm palette and calm, balanced composition make it suitable for living rooms, libraries, offices, or country home settings.
Condition report:
Very good for age. Light toning, small scattered foxing mostly in the margins, and faint handling marks typical of 18th-century sheets. Strong, clean impression with clearly visible plate mark. Hand colouring remains bright and well preserved. No tears or repairs.
Framing tips:
Frame with an ivory or warm cream mat to enhance the soft colouring. A walnut or dark oak frame creates a classic, refined look, while a thin black frame provides a more contemporary contrast. Floating the sheet is also effective, especially to show off the wide margins and plate mark.
Keywords:
buffalo engraving
Le Buffle Buffon
hand coloured copper engraving
Amsterdam 1769
Jacques de Sève
C J Fritsch
18th century natural history
antique animal print
large quadruped illustration
museum quality engraving
zoological art
Buffon mammal plate
- Dimensions:Height: 10.24 in (26 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1769
- Condition:Very good for age. Light toning, small scattered foxing mostly in the margins, and faint handling marks typical of 18th-century sheets. Strong, clean impression with clearly visible plate mark. Hand colouring remains bright and well preserved.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-13175-291stDibs: LU3054347538442
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Buffon’s description of the rhinoceros reflected the 18th century’s growing scientific curiosity about exotic species, and this plate reflects that fascination. The animal is shown standing solidly on a grassy bank against a pale sky and rocky cliff, a composition that emphasises both its mass and its rarity. De Sève’s rendering combines scientific observation with something of the romance and wonder that natural history imagery held for Enlightenment audiences. The armour-plated skin is depicted in sculptural relief through subtle cross-hatching, while carefully applied hand colouring enhances the deep greys, browns, and dusty pinks of the hide and landscape. As with all Schneider-edition plates, the colouring is richer, more transparent, and more refined than in many other continental versions of Buffon.
This engraving is an excellent example of 18th-century copperplate technique. The plate mark is clearly visible, the impression strong, and the proportions generous, with wide margins characteristic of the Amsterdam edition. The sheet forms a beautiful standalone artwork but also pairs exceptionally well with other large-format Buffon subjects such as the elephant, camel, or buffalo plates...
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