Autruche (Ostrich), from "Histoire Naturelle de Oiseaux"
This hand-colored image comes from "Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux," a famous set of volumes edited by Georges Louis Leclerc, le comte de Buffon (1707-1788), Intendant du Jardin des Plantes du Roi (head of the royal botanical gardens) under Louis XV. Initially the project was conceived as part of Buffon’s extensive natural history of the world, "Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière," begun in 1749. As published with hand-colored plates engraved by Martinet, the set became an independent set published 1771-86. Distinguished by yellow borders, the images generally show one bird in profile with its habitat indicated in a summary way. Martinet trained as an engineer and draftsman but is best remembered as an engraver, with birds his particular specialty.
Artwork Details
- Title: Autruche (Ostrich), from "Histoire Naturelle de Oiseaux"
- Series/Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle de Oiseaux, Paris, Imprimerie Royale
- Artist: François Nicolas Martinet (French, Paris 1731–ca. 1804)
- Author: Related author Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon (French, 1708–1788)
- Date: 1770–86
- Medium: Hand-colored etching and engraving
- Dimensions: Plate: 9 13/16 × 8 1/4 in. (25 × 21 cm)
Sheet: 12 7/8 × 9 1/16 in. (32.7 × 23 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
- Object Number: 2019.282.145
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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François Nicolas Martinet
1760
François Nicolas Martinet
Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon
1770–86
François Nicolas Martinet
1773
François Nicolas Martinet
1773
François Nicolas Martinet
Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon
1770–86
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