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We are very pleased to offer these hand colored engraved plates from Brisson's "Ornithologia," 1760. François Nicolas Martinet was the artist and this work is recognized as his masterpiece, with its beautifully detailed backgrounds and naturalistic settings. Written by one of the greatest ornithologists of the time, the work deals with 1336 species in addition to 150 ‘varieties’ distributed over 115 genera, which are again grouped in 26 orders. Brisson knew by sight more than 800 of the species he described. He did not use the binomial system and his systematical classification of the birds differed from that of Linnæus, being both more careful, and somewhat lengthy. References include Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists p. 356
The paper is thick creamy chain lined hand woven paper with strong plate marks and watermarks. Each print measures approximately 14 3/4 by 9 7/8 inches. The hand colouring is vibrant old French hand colourings, and if a very rare find as most of these prints were issued black and white. All our prints are of immaculate provenance and these prints are guaranteed to be the stated age of at least 240 years old. They are a great addition to the collection of the discriminating print enthusiast.
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