18th Century and Earlier Paintings

These are small, gem-like, individual bird scenes. They are beautifully drawn, detailed prints of hand-colored copperplate engravings from one of the most important ornithological works of the 18th century. These hand-colored engravings were printed in Germany on original 18th-century rag paper taken from the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux by Georges Louis Leclerc, le Comte de Buffon (1708-1788), with engravings by Francois Nicholas Martinet (1731-1804), published in Paris 1770-1786. Dimensions: 6 inches x 3.5 inches (8 inches x 10 inches including the matte) Condition: Excellent. Price: $185 for a pair BACKGROUND: of Georges Louis Leclerc, le Comte de Buffon and Francois Nicholas Martinet: The Comte de Buffon was a mathematician and scientist often thought of as the founding father of ornithology. His lifetime goal was to create images of most of the world's birds in their natural environment. His work prefigured the works of John James Audubon. Under Louis XV, he was the head of the Royal...