About this sheet
Charming Elephant Pair, Antique Hand-Coloured Prints by Buffon, 1769
This impressive matched pair of 18th-century elephant engravings, depicting the male and female Asian elephant, comes from the rare Dutch edition of Buffon’s monumental natural history, published in Amsterdam by J.H. Schneider in 1769. The plates, titled L’Elephant Mâle and L’Elephant Femelle, appear as Plates I and II in Tome XI, and together form one of the most iconic mammal portrayals in the entire series. Each image was engraved after drawings by Jacques de Sève, the principal artist of Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle, and then expertly hand-coloured, producing warm earthy tones and detailed modelling that brings the animals vividly to life.
The engravings present the elephants in profile against a subtly rendered landscape featuring pagodas and decorative architectural structures, a typical Enlightenment-era attempt to situate exotic animals within imagined Eastern settings. The male elephant is shown with long curved tusks and a heavy, muscular body, while the female features the softer contours and smaller proportions characteristic of a cow elephant. Both plates retain their original plate marks, ample margins, and the distinctive clarity of 18th-century copperplate engraving, with fine parallel shading that defines the folds of the skin and the expressive movement of the trunks.
The Dutch edition by Schneider is particularly sought after for its high-quality impressions and rich contemporary colouring. Buffon’s natural history, created together with Daubenton, was one of the most influential zoological works of the period, shaping European understanding of exotic species long before photography. These paired elephant plates were among the most admired in the entire work, frequently chosen for display in cabinets of natural curiosities. As a decorative ensemble, the male and female form a perfectly balanced symmetrical set, making them ideal for framing side by side in a gallery wall, office, study, or living room.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a complete pair of original hand-coloured engravings more than 250 years old. Their size, colouring, subject matter, and matching format make them especially appealing to collectors of natural history, Asian-themed interiors, and those looking for distinctive statement pieces.
Condition report:
Very good for age. Light toning to margins, minor scattered foxing, and a few small handling marks typical of 18th-century paper. Strong impressions with visible plate marks. Colours remain vivid and well preserved. Wide margins intact.
Framing tips:
A natural linen mat with a thin gold fillet works beautifully with the warm grey and sepia tones of the elephants. Alternatively, a dark olive or charcoal mat paired with a simple black or dark walnut frame creates a striking, museum-style presentation. Keep the pair identically framed for best visual impact.
Technique: Copper engraving, hand-coloured
Maker: After Jacques de Sève; published by J.H. Schneider, Amsterdam, 1769
