From De Piscibus
Ulisse Aldrovandi, engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano
Bologna: Nicolaus Tebaldini, 1638
Hand-colored woodcut on folio leaf
Woodcut printed to recto
This folio leaf depicting a moray eel (Muraenidae) originates from De Piscibus, part of Ulisse Aldrovandi’s monumental natural-history project dedicated to the systematic study of aquatic life. Published posthumously in Bologna in 1638, the work represents one of the most ambitious attempts of the early modern period to reconcile classical sources, eyewitness observation, and Renaissance scientific inquiry.
The image was engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano, whom Aldrovandi himself praised above all other collaborators. Contemporary and later bibliographers remarked on the exceptional refinement of Coriolano’s woodcuts, noting that their elegance and tonal clarity often rival copper engravings—an extraordinary achievement for the medium. The present impression exemplifies this quality, with a sinuous, carefully articulated figure rendered with both anatomical attention and aesthetic balance.
The sheet has been hand-colored, likely shortly after publication, enhancing the visual impact of the composition and underscoring the luxury status of the volume from which it derives. As with all hand-colored examples, the application of pigment is unique, lending individuality to the print and reinforcing its character as an object made for a discerning early modern audience.
Aldrovandi was regarded by his contemporaries—sometimes with wry admiration—as the “Pontifex Maximus of Natural History,” driven by a near-obsessive thoroughness in cataloging the natural world. While his textual expansiveness was occasionally critiqued, the artistic quality of the illustrations in his works has been consistently and unequivocally praised, securing their place among the most visually compelling scientific images of the Renaissance.
Condition:
Very light age spotting, consistent with the period. Overall well preserved. Please refer to images for details.
References:
Nissen, Zoologische Buchillustration (ZBI) 70
Nissen, Fischbücher 7
Westwood & Satchell 3
Huber 56
Status: Available
Inquiries: Acquisition and exhibition inquiries welcome
From De Piscibus
Ulisse Aldrovandi, engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano
Bologna: Nicolaus Tebaldini, 1638
Hand-colored woodcut on folio leaf
Woodcut printed to recto
This folio leaf depicting a moray eel (Muraenidae) originates from De Piscibus, part of Ulisse Aldrovandi’s monumental natural-history project dedicated to the systematic study of aquatic life. Published posthumously in Bologna in 1638, the work represents one of the most ambitious attempts of the early modern period to reconcile classical sources, eyewitness observation, and Renaissance scientific inquiry.
The image was engraved by Cristoforo Coriolano, whom Aldrovandi himself praised above all other collaborators. Contemporary and later bibliographers remarked on the exceptional refinement of Coriolano’s woodcuts, noting that their elegance and tonal clarity often rival copper engravings—an extraordinary achievement for the medium. The present impression exemplifies this quality, with a sinuous, carefully articulated figure rendered with both anatomical attention and aesthetic balance.
The sheet has been hand-colored, likely shortly after publication, enhancing the visual impact of the composition and underscoring the luxury status of the volume from which it derives. As with all hand-colored examples, the application of pigment is unique, lending individuality to the print and reinforcing its character as an object made for a discerning early modern audience.
Aldrovandi was regarded by his contemporaries—sometimes with wry admiration—as the “Pontifex Maximus of Natural History,” driven by a near-obsessive thoroughness in cataloging the natural world. While his textual expansiveness was occasionally critiqued, the artistic quality of the illustrations in his works has been consistently and unequivocally praised, securing their place among the most visually compelling scientific images of the Renaissance.
Condition:
Very light age spotting, consistent with the period. Overall well preserved. Please refer to images for details.
References:
Nissen, Zoologische Buchillustration (ZBI) 70
Nissen, Fischbücher 7
Westwood & Satchell 3
Huber 56
Status: Available
Inquiries: Acquisition and exhibition inquiries welcome
