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Ulisse AldrovandiEagle: A 16th/17th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Aldrovandi1599
1599
About the Item
This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored engraving of an eagle is plate K2 from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s 'Opera Omnia', published between 1599 and 1648 in Bologna, Italy by Clemente Ferroni, Niccolo Tebaldini, & Giovanni Battista Bellagamba. The publication was a massive, 13 volume, natural history encyclopedia, which was the first to publish an image of toucan and bird of paradise birds. The first three volumes focussed on birds and was entitled in Latin "Ornithologiae hoc est De auibus historiae" (The History of Birds). In addition to illustrations and descriptions of animals, plants and minerals, later volumes featured fantastic “monsters”, including dragons. Only four of the volumes credited to Aldrovandi appeared in his life time. He was aware that the enormity of his task would stretch beyond his lifetime. He hoped that his own pupils would continue the unfinished business of writing the definitive history of nature. At the end of his life, his literary production totaled more than 400 volumes, a number that he claimed would take more than a century to print. As he had hoped, his students used his manuscripts to complete the remainder of his work. It was the largest collection of natural history illustrations to appear before the 18th century.
This beautiful hand-colored wood-cut engraving on chain-linked laid paper depicts an eagle standing on land with a head under its right talons. Its wings are partially lifted as it appears to be grooming itself. There is Latin text on the verso. The sheet measures 14" x 9.25". There is ghosting of the text from the verso and a small defect in the lower left corner. It is otherwise in excellent condition. It is rare to find individual engravings from Aldrovandi's work for sale. A set of the 13 volumes is currently available for over $312,000.
Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) is considered by many the father of the scientific study of natural history. He was an Italian botanist, pharmacologist, and noted author. He was a genuine "Renaissance Man". He studied mathematics, Latin, law, and philosophy, eventually earning a degree in medicine in 1553. In 1549 he was arrested in Bologna for heresy and sent to Rome where he managed to exonerate himself, likely due to his parents' nobility. Aldrovandi was a dedicated collector of biological and other natural history specimens. He developed a system of classification for his specimens which contributed to subsequent systems of animal taxonomy. In this words, he described his scientific endeavors; ‘And with all this I have kept three scribes in my house, excellent painters, designers, engravers, and have spent much on transportation [of artifacts] and on a library that can stand up to any other particular library in Italy.’ His personal natural history collection is now on display at the University in Bologna, where he was a full professor. He founded The University of Bologna Botanical Gardens, one of the oldest in Italy. He was also appointed the inspector of drugs and pharmacies by Pope Gregory XIII. The Pope became a benefactor, supporting Aldrovandi's natural history work.
- Creator:
- Creation Year:1599
- Dimensions:Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)Diameter: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:Early 17th Century
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Alamo, CA
- Reference Number:
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