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Ortolans from Martinet’s Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux (1780)
About the Item
Title: Ortolans from Martinet’s *Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux* (1780)
The two exquisite prints are from the renowned Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, part of the monumental natural history series authored by George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, and illustrated by François Nicolas Martinet, the foremost bird artist of the 18th century.
The work was published in Paris between 1770 and 1786, and it contains 1008 fine, originally hand-colored copperplate engravings. These prints represent the Ortolans or Buntings, specifically labeled as "Ortolan de la Lorraine" and "Ortolan de Passage" in the first print, and "L'Ortolan" and "L'Ortolan de Roseaux" in the second.
1. First Print:
- Ortolan de la Lorraine (labeled as number 1): The bird on the top is likely a representation of the Ortolan Bunting (*Emberiza hortulana*). This small bird has a mix of greyish-blue, brown, and rufous tones, indicating its typical plumage.
- Ortolan de Passage (labeled as number 2): The bird on the bottom has lighter plumage with a white underbelly and a reddish-brown head and back. This species, indicated as one that migrates, could represent a seasonal variation or a closely related species within the Ortolan family.
2. Second Print:
- L'Ortolan (labeled as number 1): This bird, positioned on the lower part of the print, has earthy tones of brown and grey and seems to represent a female Ortolan Bunting or a juvenile bird. The detailed shading gives it a lifelike quality.
- L'Ortolan de Roseaux (labeled as number 2): The bird on the top is depicted with a distinctive black crown, suggesting it might be a Reed Bunting (*Emberiza schoeniclus*) or another closely related species. The reddish-brown upper parts and detailed markings make this a beautifully realistic depiction.
Description of the Engravings:
Both prints are typical of the *Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux*, with their finely detailed and meticulously hand-colored engravings. The birds are depicted perched on branches with minimal backgrounds, which was common in ornithological illustrations of this time, allowing the focus to remain on the birds themselves. The delicate lines and fine details, combined with the rich hand-coloring, demonstrate François Nicolas Martinet's skill as a court engraver and bird artist.
These prints are masterpieces of 18th-century bird art, printed on thick, creamy chain-lined paper. The strong plate marks and crown watermarks suggest that these are high-quality, original copperplate engravings. Buffon’s contribution to modern science, particularly his ideas about evolution, comparative anatomy, and the age of the Earth, was groundbreaking, and these ornithological works continue to be celebrated both for their artistic beauty and scientific importance.
Martinet’s illustrations capture the essence of these birds, and the hand-coloring on each print enhances their lifelike appearance, making them as vibrant today as they were when they were first printed over 240 years ago.
- Dimensions:Height: 12.6 in (32 cm)Width: 9.26 in (23.5 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Period:1780-1789
- Date of Manufacture:1780
- Condition:Condition: Very good, original hand-colored copper plate engravings on thick, creamy paper. Strong plate marks, minimal foxing, excellent preservation of colors. Occasional light wear but overall very good.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-13535-25, BG-13535-261stDibs: LU3054341606442
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