Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Ulisse Aldrovandi
Eagle: A 16th/17th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Aldrovandi

1599

$675
£501.22
€588.66
CA$939.11
A$1,051.43
CHF 551.30
MX$12,991.10
NOK 6,946.73
SEK 6,557.44
DKK 4,392.13
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored engraving of an eagle is plate 215 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 mouse under its left talons. There is Latin text on the verso. The sheet measures 14" x 9.25". There is ghosting of the text from the verso, a short thin wormhole in the right margin, a small defect in the upper right edge and a small focal area of color loss over the bird's chest. It is otherwise in very good 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:
    Seller: # 44411stDibs: LU117327282792

More From This Seller

View All
Eagle: A 16th/17th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Aldrovandi
By Ulisse Aldrovandi
Located in Alamo, CA
This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored engraving of an eagle is plate K2 from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s 'Opera Omnia', published between 1599 an...
Category

Early 17th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

Bird of Prey: A 16th/17th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Aldrovandi
By Ulisse Aldrovandi
Located in Alamo, CA
This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored woodcut engraving of a bird of prey is plate 219 from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s 'Opera Omnia', published ...
Category

Early 17th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

Bird of Prey: An 18th Century Hand-colored Bird Engraving by Martinet
By François Nicolas Martinet
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored engraving of a parrot bird entitled "La Bondree (Bird of Prey)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 420 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in association wi...
Category

1760s Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

Golden Eagle: An Original 19th C. Audubon Hand-colored Bird Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Golden Eagle", No. 3, Plate 12 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowe...
Category

Late 19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Washington Sea Eagle": An Original Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
By After John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal octavo lithograph entitled "Washington Sea Eagle", No. 3, Plate 13, from Audubon's "Birds of America". It was lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1856-1871. It depicts an adult male sea eagle perched on a rock. This is an excerpt from Audubon's own description of this magnificent eagle, which includes how he came up with the name "Washington Sea Eagle": "The name which I have chosen for this new species of Eagle, “The Bird of Washington,” may, by some, be considered as preposterous and unfit; but as it is indisputably the noblest bird of its genus that has yet been discovered in the United States, I trust I shall be allowed to honour it with the name of one yet nobler, who was the saviour of his country, and whose name will ever be dear, to it. To those who may be curious to know my reasons, I can only say, that, as the new world gave me birth and liberty, the great man who ensured its independence is next to my heart. He had a nobility of mind, and a generosity of soul, such as are seldom possessed. He was brave, so is the Eagle; like it, too, he was the terror of his foes; and his fame, extending from pole to pole, resembles the majestic soarings of the mightiest of the feathered tribe...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

An Icelandic GyrFalcon: An 18th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Martinet
By François Nicolas Martinet
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored engraving of an Icelandic Ger Falcon entitled "Gerfault d''Islande" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 210 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in associatio...
Category

1760s Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

You May Also Like

Eagle /// Antique Ornithology Bird Saverio Manetti Italian Watercolor Engraving
By Saverio Manetti
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Saverio Manetti (Italian, 1723-1785) Title: "Eagle" (Plate V - 5) Portfolio: Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds) Year: 1767-1776 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on watermarked laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: heirs of Francesco Mouck (Vols. I-III), Gaetano Cambiagi (Vol. IV), Giuseppe Vanni (Vol. V), Florence, Italy Reference: Ayer/Zimmer page 241; Fine Bird Books page 120; McGill/Wood, page 450; Nissen IVB No. 588 Sheet size: 16.75" x 14.5" Platemark size: 13.63" x 10.88" Condition: Some minor surface marks mainly in margins. In excellent condition with strong colors Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Haarlem, Netherlands. Engraved and hand-colored by Italian artists Lorenzo Lorenzi (Active: 1750-1780) and Violante Vanni (1732-1776). Latin and Italian texts by Saverio Manetti. Comes from Manetti's monumental five volume "Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds)", (1767-1776), which consists of 600 hand-colored engravings. Unidentified watermark in very center of sheet. Comes with its accompanying information sheet. Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 60 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Manetti's extraordinary "Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds)", 1767-1776 was commissioned by Maria Luisa, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. It is a massive 5 book volume set...
Category

1770s Old Masters Animal Prints

Materials

Watercolor, Engraving, Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Intaglio

Antique Old Hand-Colored Bird Print of Two Eagles and an Eagle Claw, 1657
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print of two eagles and an eagle claw. This print originates from 'Historiae Naturalis De Avibus Libri VI' by John Johnston, published by Matthias Merian in 1657. Artis...
Category

Antique 1650s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of a White-Tailed Eagle by Manetti, circa 1770
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print titled 'Aquila di coda Bianca d'America - Aquila cauda Alba Americana Edw'. Beautiful copper engraving of the white-tailed eagle. This print originates from 'Stori...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Engraving of Various Birds of Prey, like Eagles & Harrier, 1657
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print, titled: 'Haliaetus Adler (…).' - This plate shows various birds of prey; Haliaetus, Adler, Meer Adler (White-tailed Eagle, Sea Eagle) - Aquila, Adler (Eagles species) ...
Category

Antique 1650s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the White-Tailed Eagle by Sepp & Nozeman, 1829
By M. Houttuyn, J.C. Sepp
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Falco Leucocephalus hornotinus'. The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is a very large eagle widely distributed acro...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Le Grand Aigle - Etching by C. Lucas- 1771
Located in Roma, IT
Le Grand Aigle is an etching realized in 1771 by C. Lucas. Signed in plate. The artwork Belongs to the suite "Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière avec la description du Ca...
Category

1770s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching