From Historia Naturalis
Matthäus Merian the Elder
Amsterdam, 1657
Issued in Historia Naturalis by Jon Jonston
Hand-colored copperplate engraving on folio leaf
This finely detailed folio engraving depicting marine life and shell-bearing organisms, including Pholas, Balani (barnacles), Tellina, Musculus (mussels), and shells, was executed by Matthäus Merian the Elder and published in Amsterdam in 1657 as part of Jon Jonston’s Historia Naturalis. The plate represents one of the earliest sustained visual efforts to document marine invertebrates at a time when their biological nature was still actively debated.
Shells and mollusks fascinated early modern naturalists because they challenged prevailing ideas about animal life, generation, and classification. Barnacles in particular were the subject of widespread confusion, famously linked to the myth of spontaneous generation. Merian’s engraving brings these organisms together in a clear, comparative format, reflecting the growing emphasis on observation over inherited belief.
Printed from a finely cut copperplate, the engraving demonstrates Merian’s exceptional control of line and form. The plate was subsequently hand colored, likely in a contemporary workshop, enhancing contrast and differentiation among species while preserving the precision of the engraving. Each hand-colored example is unique.
While Merian is widely celebrated for his Topographia series of European city views, his natural history engravings are equally significant. Plates such as this illustrate the transition from speculative natural philosophy toward empirical marine science and remain essential documents in the visual history of malacology and early zoology.
Very good overall condition for the age. Please view images closely for details.
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1657
Dimensions: 15.08 × 8.94 inches (38.3 × 22.7 cm)
Subjects: Shells, Mollusks, Barnacles, Marine Invertebrates
Status: Available
From Historia Naturalis
Matthäus Merian the Elder
Amsterdam, 1657
Issued in Historia Naturalis by Jon Jonston
Hand-colored copperplate engraving on folio leaf
This finely detailed folio engraving depicting marine life and shell-bearing organisms, including Pholas, Balani (barnacles), Tellina, Musculus (mussels), and shells, was executed by Matthäus Merian the Elder and published in Amsterdam in 1657 as part of Jon Jonston’s Historia Naturalis. The plate represents one of the earliest sustained visual efforts to document marine invertebrates at a time when their biological nature was still actively debated.
Shells and mollusks fascinated early modern naturalists because they challenged prevailing ideas about animal life, generation, and classification. Barnacles in particular were the subject of widespread confusion, famously linked to the myth of spontaneous generation. Merian’s engraving brings these organisms together in a clear, comparative format, reflecting the growing emphasis on observation over inherited belief.
Printed from a finely cut copperplate, the engraving demonstrates Merian’s exceptional control of line and form. The plate was subsequently hand colored, likely in a contemporary workshop, enhancing contrast and differentiation among species while preserving the precision of the engraving. Each hand-colored example is unique.
While Merian is widely celebrated for his Topographia series of European city views, his natural history engravings are equally significant. Plates such as this illustrate the transition from speculative natural philosophy toward empirical marine science and remain essential documents in the visual history of malacology and early zoology.
Very good overall condition for the age. Please view images closely for details.
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1657
Dimensions: 15.08 × 8.94 inches (38.3 × 22.7 cm)
Subjects: Shells, Mollusks, Barnacles, Marine Invertebrates
Status: Available
