One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1828
Sheet size
29.5 × 21.6 cm (11.6 × 8.5 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-06934
Condition
Good condition with mild toning to the sheet and a few scattered foxing spots, most noticeable in the background. One faint, vertical water stain is visible above the flamingo. Colours remain well-preserved and clear. Comes in brown matting board.
About this sheet
Flamingo & Swan – Antique hand-coloured lithograph, c.1828 A graceful early 19th-century ornithological plate depicting two elegant waterbirds: the Flamingo (Le Flamand ou Phoenicoptère) in the foreground and the Swan (Le Cygne) above. The flamingo is shown with its distinctive long, slender legs, curved bill, and pink plumage with deeper rose tones on the wings, standing in shallow water beside green reeds. Above, the swan is portrayed in a calm stance on a grassy islet, its long, arched neck and subtle grey shading suggesting a juvenile or a muted artistic rendering of the species’ white plumage. Both birds are set against a plain background, allowing their forms and colours to stand out vividly. The plate bears the designation “Pl. 167” at upper right, with the imprint “Lejeune, Éditeur” at the bottom.
This work was published in Brussels between 1828 and 1833 by Th. Lejeune as part of the expanded illustrated edition of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon’s *Oeuvres complètes*. Buffon’s *Histoire naturelle* was a landmark in Enlightenment science, and this Brussels issue brought the text up to date with lithographic plates that were then carefully hand-coloured. The clear outlines and soft tonal shading seen here are characteristic of the lithographic style of the period, while the bright yet naturalistic colouring reflects the skill of the artisans employed for this edition.
Flamingos have long fascinated naturalists for their unusual feeding behaviour and vibrant colouration, derived from carotenoid-rich diets. Swans, by contrast, have been symbols of grace and purity in both literature and art for centuries. This pairing presents two of the most iconic and elegant waterbirds known to early zoologists.
Condition report: Good condition with mild toning to the sheet and a few scattered foxing spots, most noticeable in the background. One faint, vertical water stain is visible above the flamingo. Colours remain well-preserved and clear. Comes in brown matting board.
Framing tips: A pale ivory or soft beige mat will highlight the delicate pink of the flamingo and the subtle shading of the swan, while a narrow gilt or dark wood frame will give the piece a refined finish. Archival mounting and UV-protective glazing are recommended.
Technique: Hand-coloured lithograph on wove paper Maker: Published by Th. Lejeune, Brussels, 1828–1833; after Buffon’s Oeuvres complètes (Plate 167)
