Birds · 18th century
€ 590
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good to almost excellent condition with the original hand colouring still very vivid and vibrant. Russian text above the title. General age related toning.
The image is an ornate botanical and ornithological illustration from one of Johann Michael Seligmann's collections, which were based on George Edwards's natural history studies.
The bird depicted in the image is identified with the Latin name "Parus americanus gutture luteo," which translates to "American tit with a yellow throat." This description corresponds to the visual depiction of the bird, which features a prominent yellow throat patch.
The text "Mélange de l'Amerique a la gorge jaune," found at the bottom of the image, is French and translates to "Mix of America with the yellow throat," further emphasizing the bird's distinctive yellow throat marking.
The plant depicted with the bird is identified as "Acer Virginianum, folio majore, fructu rubente, juxta viridis," a phrase in Latin that describes a species of Virginian Maple with large leaves and a reddish fruit, near green. The accompanying German text "Die amerikanische Reife mit gelber Kehle" translates to "The American tit with a yellow throat," consistent with the Latin and French descriptions.
At the top left, the Russian text "Американская малиновка с желтой шейкой" provides the same description in Cyrillic script, translating to "American tit with a yellow throat."
This particular plate, designated as "Tab. XXIV," which means Table 24, showcases the integration of both flora and fauna, presenting a harmonious scene that was typical of natural history illustrations of that time. The image captures the fine details of both the bird and plant life, revealing the interconnectedness of species within their natural habitats. Such illustrations were not only scientifically informative but also artistically exquisite, serving as valuable documents for both naturalists and art connoisseurs.
