Barrois, King Angelfish, 1845, Lithograph on Paper

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Description

This vibrant and finely hand-colored lithograph features Holacanthus passer, commonly known as the King Angelfish, or Holacanthe Moineau in the … Read more This vibrant and finely hand-colored lithograph features Holacanthus passer, commonly known as the King Angelfish, or Holacanthe Moineau in the original French.

The plate was published in Paris in 1846 as part of the Voyage de la frégate La Vénus, a celebrated French naval and scientific expedition that circumnavigated the globe between 1836 and 1839. The King Angelfish is depicted with a remarkable degree of anatomical accuracy and artistic elegance. Its tall, compressed body is painted in rich brown tones, with a distinctive white vertical bar behind the gills and luminous yellow fins, tail, and highlights. The texture of the scales, the graceful arch of the dorsal and anal fins, and the soft gradation of color make this a particularly striking example of 19th-century marine illustration. *Holacanthus passer* is a tropical reef fish found in the Eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California down to Peru and around the Galápagos Islands. It is one of the most visually iconic members of the Pomacanthidae family (marine angelfish) and is highly regarded for its graceful swimming and brilliant coloration. This plate is labeled “Poissons Pl. 6,” drawn by Werner and engraved by Barrois, with printing by Bougeard. The balance of artistic refinement and scientific precision is characteristic of prints produced under French government-sponsored voyages of discovery, especially during the height of natural history publishing in the mid-19th century. The *Voyage de la Vénus* was instrumental in expanding Europe’s understanding of tropical marine biodiversity. Its zoological plates, especially those representing colorful reef species, remain among the most beautiful and collectible prints in the natural history canon.

Condition: Very good condition. Minor age-related toning and occasional faint foxing in the margins. Plate impression strong. Colors vibrant and original. No tears or restorations noted. See less