From De Piscibus
Ulisse Aldrovandi, engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano
Bologna: Nicolaus Tebaldini, 1638
Hand-colored woodcut on folio leaf
Woodcut printed to recto
This striking folio woodcut depicting Dracunculi, or dragon fish, originates from De Piscibus, Ulisse Aldrovandi’s monumental study of aquatic life, published posthumously in Bologna in 1638 by Nicolaus Tebaldini. Among Aldrovandi’s most visually compelling subjects, dragon fish occupy a space where observation, taxonomy, and Renaissance imagination converge.
Aldrovandi was regarded by his contemporaries, sometimes with admiring irony, as the supreme authority on natural history for his exhaustive and uncompromising approach to classification. While his textual breadth was occasionally criticized for excess, the artistic quality of the illustrations in his works has been consistently praised. In particular, Aldrovandi himself singled out his woodcut engraver Cristoforo Coriolano, noting the extraordinary elegance of his cuts, which were said to resemble copper engravings in their refinement.
The present impression exemplifies this praise. Coriolano’s woodcut is exceptionally crisp, with finely articulated line work that conveys both texture and movement. The sheet has been hand colored, likely shortly after publication, heightening the drama of the subject and reinforcing the status of the work as both a scientific illustration and a luxury object. As with all hand-colored examples, the application of pigment is unique to this impression.
Dragon fish images from Aldrovandi’s De Piscibus are especially sought after for their visual intensity and mythic resonance. They capture a moment in early modern science when the boundaries between known species and legendary creatures were still being negotiated through print.
Very good overall condition. Please view images carefully for details.
Nissen, Zoologische Buchillustration (ZBI) 70
Nissen, Fischbücher 7
Westwood & Satchell 3
Huber 56
Medium: Hand-colored woodcut
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1638
Dimensions: 13.78 × 9.37 inches (35 × 23.8 cm)
Status: Available
From De Piscibus
Ulisse Aldrovandi, engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano
Bologna: Nicolaus Tebaldini, 1638
Hand-colored woodcut on folio leaf
Woodcut printed to recto
This striking folio woodcut depicting Dracunculi, or dragon fish, originates from De Piscibus, Ulisse Aldrovandi’s monumental study of aquatic life, published posthumously in Bologna in 1638 by Nicolaus Tebaldini. Among Aldrovandi’s most visually compelling subjects, dragon fish occupy a space where observation, taxonomy, and Renaissance imagination converge.
Aldrovandi was regarded by his contemporaries, sometimes with admiring irony, as the supreme authority on natural history for his exhaustive and uncompromising approach to classification. While his textual breadth was occasionally criticized for excess, the artistic quality of the illustrations in his works has been consistently praised. In particular, Aldrovandi himself singled out his woodcut engraver Cristoforo Coriolano, noting the extraordinary elegance of his cuts, which were said to resemble copper engravings in their refinement.
The present impression exemplifies this praise. Coriolano’s woodcut is exceptionally crisp, with finely articulated line work that conveys both texture and movement. The sheet has been hand colored, likely shortly after publication, heightening the drama of the subject and reinforcing the status of the work as both a scientific illustration and a luxury object. As with all hand-colored examples, the application of pigment is unique to this impression.
Dragon fish images from Aldrovandi’s De Piscibus are especially sought after for their visual intensity and mythic resonance. They capture a moment in early modern science when the boundaries between known species and legendary creatures were still being negotiated through print.
Very good overall condition. Please view images carefully for details.
Nissen, Zoologische Buchillustration (ZBI) 70
Nissen, Fischbücher 7
Westwood & Satchell 3
Huber 56
Medium: Hand-colored woodcut
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1638
Dimensions: 13.78 × 9.37 inches (35 × 23.8 cm)
Status: Available
