Museum-Quality Illustration of Pacific Fish, 1846, Paper

Details

Description

Antique Print of Bluebanded Hawkfish and Ornamented Scorpionfish, 1846 This vibrant hand-colored lithograph features two striking reef fish species: Cirrhites … Read more Antique Print of Bluebanded Hawkfish and Ornamented Scorpionfish, 1846 This vibrant hand-colored lithograph features two striking reef fish species: Cirrhites rivulatus (the Bluebanded Hawkfish) and Scorpaena fucata (the Ornamented Scorpionfish). The print was produced for the zoological section of Voyage de la frégate La Vénus, a major French scientific expedition published in Paris by Gide in 1846. The upper fish, *Scorpaena fucata*, known for its cryptic appearance and reddish blotches, is a type of scorpionfish recognized for its venomous spines and ability to blend into rocky seafloors. The illustration emphasizes its broad head, large golden eyes, and robust pectoral fins. The lower fish, *Cirrhites rivulatus*, is immediately eye-catching with its vivid greenish-blue body intricately patterned in cobalt-blue lines and bars. Commonly referred to as the Bluebanded Hawkfish, this species is found in Eastern Pacific coral reefs and is admired for its ornate coloring and perching behavior atop coral outcrops. This plate, titled "Poissons Pl. 3", was drawn by Werner, engraved by Bernard, and printed by Bougeard. The detail and precision of this lithograph reflect the commitment to both artistic refinement and scientific accuracy that characterized 19th-century natural history publishing. See less