Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Antique Print of the King Angelfish – Hand-Colored French Lithograph, 1845

$787.58
£585.30
€670
CA$1,081.55
A$1,217.47
CHF 644.09
MX$15,101.27
NOK 7,958.41
SEK 7,611.52
DKK 5,098.50
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Antique Print of the King Angelfish (Holacanthus Passer) – Hand-Colored French Lithograph, 1846 This vibrant and finely hand-colored lithograph features Holacanthus passer, commonly known as the King Angelfish, or Holacanthe Moineau in the original French. The plate was published in Paris in 1846 as part of the Voyage de la frégate La Vénus, a celebrated French naval and scientific expedition that circumnavigated the globe between 1836 and 1839. The King Angelfish is depicted with a remarkable degree of anatomical accuracy and artistic elegance. Its tall, compressed body is painted in rich brown tones, with a distinctive white vertical bar behind the gills and luminous yellow fins, tail, and highlights. The texture of the scales, the graceful arch of the dorsal and anal fins, and the soft gradation of color make this a particularly striking example of 19th-century marine illustration. *Holacanthus passer* is a tropical reef fish found in the Eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California down to Peru and around the Galápagos Islands. It is one of the most visually iconic members of the Pomacanthidae family (marine angelfish) and is highly regarded for its graceful swimming and brilliant coloration. This plate is labeled “Poissons Pl. 6,” drawn by Werner and engraved by Barrois, with printing by Bougeard. The balance of artistic refinement and scientific precision is characteristic of prints produced under French government-sponsored voyages of discovery, especially during the height of natural history publishing in the mid-19th century. The *Voyage de la Vénus* was instrumental in expanding Europe’s understanding of tropical marine biodiversity. Its zoological plates, especially those representing colorful reef species, remain among the most beautiful and collectible prints in the natural history canon. Condition: Very good condition. Minor age-related toning and occasional faint foxing in the margins. Plate impression strong. Colors vibrant and original. No tears or restorations noted. Framing Tips: This print will shine in a slim black, golden wood, or dark walnut frame, paired with a white, ivory, or soft sand-toned mat to highlight the yellow fins and dark body. Ideal for marine-themed decor, tropical interiors, or natural history galleries. UV-filtering glass is recommended to preserve the hand coloring.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.39 in (34 cm)Width: 19.18 in (48.7 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1845
  • Condition:
    Very good condition. Minor age-related toning and occasional faint foxing in the margins. Plate impression strong. Colors vibrant and original. No tears or restorations noted.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-099361stDibs: LU3054345533012

More From This Seller

View All
Antique Print of the Marquises Turbot – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of the Marquises Turbot (Passer marchionessarum) – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1846 This beautifully detailed hand-colored lithograph depicts Le Turbot des Marquises (Pas...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Icelandic Flounder – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of the Icelandic Flounder (Pleuronectes superciliaris) – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845 This elegant hand-colored lithograph features La Pole (Pleuronectes superciliari...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Anglerfish or Monkfish – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of the Anglerfish or Monkfish – Hand-Colored French Lithograph, 1845 This remarkable hand-colored lithograph features La Baudroie (Lophius Piscatorius), commonly known...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Opah or Moonfish – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of the Opah (Lampris guttatus) – Hand-Colored French Lithograph, 1845 This stunning hand-colored lithograph features Le Lampris Tacheté (Lampris guttatus), known in En...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Ribbonfish Print – Hand-Colored Lithograph of Trachypterus Bogmarus 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of the Ribbonfish (Trachypterus Bogmarus) – Paris, 1845 This striking hand-colored lithograph features Le Trachiptère Bogmare (Trachypterus bogmarus), a rare deep-sea ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of Gaimard’s Skate – Raia gaimardi – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print of Gaimard’s Skate – Raia gaimardi – Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845 This beautifully hand-colored lithograph depicts *Raia gaimardi*, commonly referred to as Gaimard’s ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Deep Black Antique Vase Print 3 of 4
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of four, representing an ancient Italian roman Vase-Urn of Villa Mattei in Rome. It is printed with an anti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Deep Black Antique Vase Print 4 of 4
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of four, representing an ancient Italian roman Vase which was found in a garden in Trastevere in Rome. It i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Deep Black Antique Vase Print 2 of 4
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of four, representing an ancient Italian roman vase of Musei Capitolini in Rome. It is printed with an anti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Deep Black Antique Vase Print 1 of 4
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of four, representing an ancient Italian roman vase of Villa Ghigi. It is printed with an antique press and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Pompeian Red Antique Vase Print 1 of 2
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of two, representing 2 different views of an ancient Italian vase of Villa Ghigi. It is printed with an antique press and colored by our best...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Hand Colored Pompeian Red Antique Vase Print 2 of 2
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful print that is part of a series of two, representing 2 different views of an ancient Italian vase of Villa Ghigi. It is printed with an antique press and colored by our best...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper