Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Art

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 39; Unidentified tree with moth, caterpillar and pupa. The Netherlands: 1705....

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 6; Thistle and Moths. The Netherlands: 1705. Engraving with hand coloring in w...

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 26; Cocoa plant, caterpillar, pupa, and butterflies. The Netherlands: 1705. En...

These colored engravings are from Edward Joseph Lowe's 1861 book "Beautiful Leaved Plants. Being a Description of the Most Beautiful Leaved Plants ...

A 17th century hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Caryophyllus Maior Sylve Strisvarie Gatus" (Wood Pink & Cottage Pink Flowers) from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This engraving is presented in a silver and gold-colored wood frame with a green edge and three elaborate cream-colored French mats...

This 17th century hand-colored engraving of a lemon entitled "Limon Lavrae", plate 219 from Giovanni Baptista Ferrari's publication "Hesperides, sive, De Malorum Aureorum Cultura Etu...

Rare Botanical Hand Colored Engraving about 1737-1745 Beautifully framed French hand painted mat, in gold leaf frame each print measure 9.5x14.5 with the frame 23.5hx18.5x1 Johann ...

Four plates from The Wondrous Transformation of Caterpillars and their Strange Diet of Flowers. “Wolfsmelk Rupsen;" “Wolfsmilch, Raupe und Schmetterling" Amsterdam: J F Bernard, 1730. Each an engraving with hand coloring in watercolor and gouache printed on one sheet of watermarked Honig cream laid paper, each measures 6 1/4 x 5 inches (157 x 121 mm), sheet measures 20 5/8 x 14 inches (522 x 355 mm), full margins. With handling creases in the lower right sheet quadrant, as well as minor, loose cockling, otherwise in very good condition. The colors are superb with exceptionally fresh and bright saturation. Engraved between 1679 and 1683, printed 1730. Plates included: No.1:I; No. 2:1; II & III. MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN was one of the most highly respected entomologists of the 17th century, and remains today one of the field's most significant figures. A German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, she reared herself on the study of caterpillars, and made tremendous contributions to the knowledge of the life cycles of numerous species. Until her detailed and careful study of the process of metamorphosis it was thought that insects were "born of mud," through spontaneous generation. Trained as a miniature painter by her stepfather, she published her first book of illustrations in 1675, at the age of 28. In 1679, Merian published the first volume of the two-volume series on caterpillars, The Wondrous Transformation of Caterpillars and their Strange Diet of Flowers; the second volume followed in 1683. Each volume contained 50 plates that she engraved and etched. In 1699, Merian traveled to Dutch Guiana...

This is a 17th century portrait engraving of Jean-Baptiste Racine by Gerard Edelinck (1640-1707), published in Charles Perrault's 'Les Hommes Illustres' in Paris in 1696. Jean Racine (1639-1699) was a French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, along with Molière and Corneille. Racine's works were primarily tragedies. He wrote Phèdre, Andromaque, and Athalie. He did write one comedy, Les Plaideurs, and a muted tragedy, Esther for young readers. His writing is renowned for its elegance, purity, speed, and fury. The American poet Robert Lowell described his style as a "diamond-edge" and the "glory of its hard, electric rage". Racine's works often displayed his psychological insight, the passion of his characters, and the stark reality of his plots and stage descriptions. In 1672, he was elected to the Académie Française, and two years later he achieved the title of "treasurer of France", and later the honorary title of an "ordinary gentleman of the king" to King Louis XIV, and subsequently a secretary of the king . This beautiful engraved portrait is printed on chain-linked, laid paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 17.13" high by 10.75" wide. There is a small spot in the lower margin and a few tiny faint spots in the margins, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. The original descriptive text pages, 81 & 82, are included. Provenance: This engraving was owned by Arthur Pomeroy, 1st Baron Harberton and the Viscount Harberton (1723-1798). He was an Irish politician, who represented County Kildare in the Irish House...

Antique hand colored engraving of grass or Panicum Sanguinale by W.Curtis, circa 1820. Artwork was intended to be actual size of specimen. Original artwork on paper displayed on a w...

A hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Leucoium bulbosum autumnale tenufolium (Autumn Snowflake); Colchicum vulgare Polyanthos; Colchicum biflorum; Colchicum vulgare album; C...

French School 20th century Two naval images depicting 17th century warships flying various flags, including the Plantagenet Lions and St. George's Cross. (2) c1950. Two engravings w...