7018 Francois-Nicolas Martinet (1731–1800) – The Great Auk of the Northern Seas – Engraving, Hand-coloured (c. 1776)
This hand-coloured engraving, titled "Le grand Pingouin, des Mers du Nord" in French, depicts a Great Auk standing on a rocky shoreline. The bird is illustrated in profile with its distinctive black and white plumage and a prominent white patch near its eye. This plate is from Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon's monumental "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux," a key work of the Enlightenment that systematically documented the world's avifauna. The engraving was executed by François-Nicolas Martinet, the principal artist for this famous series. The print holds significant historical value as a contemporary depiction of the Great Auk, a species that is now extinct.
Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon was a prominent French naturalist, mathematician, and cosmologist of the Enlightenment. His multi-volume "Histoire Naturelle" was a groundbreaking encyclopedic work that compiled a vast body of knowledge about the natural world. François-Nicolas Martinet was a celebrated French artist and engineer who served as the chief engraver for Buffon's "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux," contributing a total of 1008 plates that are widely considered masterpieces of 18th-century ornithological art.
Artist or Maker: After Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon; engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet
Dimensions: Approximately 22 cm x 14 cm
Medium: Engraving, Hand-coloured
Date: c. 1776
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 300 - 400 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
Dahlströms Rare Prints
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