Waterbirds, Ducks & Geese (Ornithology)
From Historia Naturalis
Matthäus Merian the Elder
Amsterdam, 1657
Issued in Historia Naturalis by Jon Jonston
Hand-colored copperplate engraving on folio leaf
Description
This folio engraving depicting waterbirds, ducks, and geese was executed by Matthäus Merian the Elder and published in Amsterdam in 1657 as part of Jon Jonston’s Historia Naturalis. The plate represents early modern ornithology at a moment when systematic observation was beginning to replace symbolic or allegorical treatment of animals.
Merian’s engraving brings together multiple species in a carefully organized composition, allowing the viewer to compare posture, plumage, and form. Waterfowl were of particular interest to early naturalists due to their migratory behavior and adaptability across land and water. Merian’s treatment emphasizes physical structure and recognizability rather than decorative flourish, reflecting the growing scientific ambitions of seventeenth-century natural history.
Printed from a finely cut copperplate, the engraving was subsequently hand colored, likely in a contemporary workshop. The application of color enhances differentiation between species while preserving the crispness of Merian’s line work. As with all hand-colored examples, each impression is unique, shaped by the colorist’s choices and technique.
Matthäus Merian the Elder was among the most accomplished engravers of his generation, trained across Basel, Zurich, Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris before establishing himself in Frankfurt. While widely celebrated for his Topographia series of city views and maps, Merian’s natural history engravings are equally important, combining clarity, balance, and authority in service of early scientific illustration.
This plate stands as a refined and historically significant document of early ornithology, valued by collectors and institutions for its scale, visual coherence, and place within the development of zoological knowledge.
Condition
Good overall condition for the age. A few scattered spots consistent with historical use. Please view images closely for details.
Details
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1657
Dimensions: 15 × 8.66 inches (38.1 × 22 cm)
Subjects: Waterbirds, Ducks, Geese, Ornithology
Status: Available
Waterbirds, Ducks & Geese (Ornithology)
From Historia Naturalis
Matthäus Merian the Elder
Amsterdam, 1657
Issued in Historia Naturalis by Jon Jonston
Hand-colored copperplate engraving on folio leaf
Description
This folio engraving depicting waterbirds, ducks, and geese was executed by Matthäus Merian the Elder and published in Amsterdam in 1657 as part of Jon Jonston’s Historia Naturalis. The plate represents early modern ornithology at a moment when systematic observation was beginning to replace symbolic or allegorical treatment of animals.
Merian’s engraving brings together multiple species in a carefully organized composition, allowing the viewer to compare posture, plumage, and form. Waterfowl were of particular interest to early naturalists due to their migratory behavior and adaptability across land and water. Merian’s treatment emphasizes physical structure and recognizability rather than decorative flourish, reflecting the growing scientific ambitions of seventeenth-century natural history.
Printed from a finely cut copperplate, the engraving was subsequently hand colored, likely in a contemporary workshop. The application of color enhances differentiation between species while preserving the crispness of Merian’s line work. As with all hand-colored examples, each impression is unique, shaped by the colorist’s choices and technique.
Matthäus Merian the Elder was among the most accomplished engravers of his generation, trained across Basel, Zurich, Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris before establishing himself in Frankfurt. While widely celebrated for his Topographia series of city views and maps, Merian’s natural history engravings are equally important, combining clarity, balance, and authority in service of early scientific illustration.
This plate stands as a refined and historically significant document of early ornithology, valued by collectors and institutions for its scale, visual coherence, and place within the development of zoological knowledge.
Condition
Good overall condition for the age. A few scattered spots consistent with historical use. Please view images closely for details.
Details
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1657
Dimensions: 15 × 8.66 inches (38.1 × 22 cm)
Subjects: Waterbirds, Ducks, Geese, Ornithology
Status: Available
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