Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst Art

A hand-colored copperplate engraving of a bird and plants by Mark Catesby (1683-1749) entitled "The Crested Titmous" from "The Natural History of Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahama Islands", published in 1731. It depicts a small Crested Titmous bird, facing left, perched on the stem of a plant with clusters of mauve colored star-like flowers. This original Catesby hand-colored engraving, on laid paper with a large central Fleur-de-Lys watermark, is presented in a cream color French mat. The mat measures 20" x 15.5" and the sheet measures 18.75" x 14.75". Mark Catesby was born in England to a prosperous family, but he traveled to America, first to visit his sister and her husband in 1712. From 1712 to 1719 he explored America observing its birds and plants, taking notes, creating drawings and collecting specimens. He returned to England with this material and created more detailed drawings. His next visit to America 1722-1726 allowed for more detailed research. Upon his return to England he created his monumental and beautiful work "The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and Bahama Islands", which was published in London in two folio volumes of 11 parts each consisting of 20 plates...

This is a rare 18th Century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Der Storch Ciconia" (White Stork) by Johann Leonhard Frisch is plate 19...

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...

A large print of John Gould & Henry Constantine Richter of Temminck's Tragopan from his published book " Birds of Asia ". John Gould was influenced by James Audubon paintings of bi...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a parrot bird entitled "La Perruche-Ara, de Cayenne (Parrot)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 864 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in ass...

This is a rare 18th Century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Ciconia Nigra" (Black Stork) by Johann Leonhard Frisch is plate 197 fro...

A pair of 18th century hand colored copperplate engravings entitled "Felis Leo Linn Femina" and "Rhinoceros Unicornis Linn" from Dr. Johann Schreber's Die Sa...

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 one 1.5 inch inch tear across the area of the top-left corner, well outside of image area. 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: CXXI, CXXII, CXXIII, & CXXIV. 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...

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: LIV, LV, LVI, & LVII. 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...

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 58; Ice Cream Bean Plant, Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly and Caterpillar with Mot...