| Title: |
The Ram of Iceland 'Le Belier d' Islande' (Buffon's Histoire Naturelle) |
| Engraver: |
Chevillet, Justus 'Juste Chevillet' (Francfort-sur-l'Oder, 1729 - Paris, c. 1802) |
| Designer: |
De Seve, Jacques E. (French, fl. 1742 - 1788) |
| Date: |
c. 1760 |
| Medium: |
Original Etching & Engraving |
| Publisher: |
Buffon, Paris |
| Source: |
Comte de Buffon's "Histoire Naturelle, Generale Et Particuliere, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi" (Natural History, General and Specific with the Description of the King's Cabinet) |
| Note: |
Jacques E. De Seve, also listed as Jacques Eustache de Seve, was the principal artist commissioned by Georges-Louis Leclerec, Comte de Buffon to illustrate 'Histoire Naturelle, Generale Et Particuliere, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi' from 1749 to 1760. He also produced illustrations for 'Encyclopedie Methodique', from 1774 to 1832. |
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J. E. De Seve was more artist than naturalist, He was not content to simply portray his animals in a dry and factual manner. Rather, he insisted on providing full backgrounds, including classical landscapes. One writer comments, "The illustrations to Buffon's original edition are exquisitely engraved and exude aristocratic elegance and charm. Whether the animal depicted is a lion or a pig, it is shown as if in a tableau revealed to our curious gaze by the drawing aside of a curtain. The animals do not seem like wild beasts roaming free in their native woods, deserts and mountains, but like actors performing among stage props and painted scenery for the benefit of the lords of creation." It can be thus argued that no natural history artist was as influential as De Seve, and today his early and scarce etchings are avidly sought after. |
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The 18th Century Naturalist Engravers: Mention should be made of the fine scientific etchers and engravers of the 18th century such as, Jean Charles Baquoy 'C. Baquoy' (1721-1788), Justus Chevillet 'Juste Chevillet' (1729 - c.1802), Claude Donat Jardinier (1725-1726), Claude Baron (1738-1770), Pierre Francois Tardieu (1711 - 1771), and Antoine Jean de Fehrt 'A. J. de Fehrt', also listed as 'Defehrt' (1723 - c. 1774). These were only a few of the artists who produced the outstanding etchings based upon De Seve's striking designs for Buffon's "Histoire Naturelle". Unfortunately, not much information is available on these engravers because these works were created for scientific and educational purposes and the etchings were very specialized for the times. Little did they know that they would leave behind some of the most wonderful engravings as records and portrayals of the animal world. We have now come to regard these engravings, such as Chevillet's "The Ram of Iceland (Le Belier d' Islande)", as wonderful works of early animal art. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and The National Portrait Gallery, London include an engraving by the French artist, Justus Chevillet (Juste Chevillet), in their permanent collections. |
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Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon: The lengthy name of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon is easily one of the most famous in the art of natural history. Beginning his career as both a mathematician and as a philosopher, Buffon turned to the study of the natural world in his early forties. Appointed by the King as Superintendent of the Royal Gardens in Paris, Buffon based his researches upon its extensive collections. the first volume of his monumental, "Histoire Naturelle, Generale Et Particuliere, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi", appeared in 1749. The publication continued throughout the rest of his life and the enterprise was so successful that volumes continued even after his death in 1788. Various 'Suites a Buffon' appeared in every major European nation. The art of natural history had been forever changed. |
| Size: |
8 1/2 X 6 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
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Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Buy Now |
Price: $185.00 US |
| Condition: |
Printed on mid-eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with full margins, and bearing the title, the artist's names,'De Seve', and 'Chevillet' in the lower margin as published in Paris before 1760. This is a fine early impression and in excellent condition throughout. Chevillet's etching, "The Ram of Iceland (Le Belier d' Islande)" is a fine, original example of the early animal art design by the 18th French artist, Jacques E. de Seve for "Buffon's Histoire Naturelle" and the engraved art of Justus Chevillet, also listed as (Juste Chevillet).. |
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