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Johann Seligmann Set of Six Engravings of Birds,
Circa 1770
Dimensions: 18 1/2 inches high x 16 inches wide x …
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Johann Seligmann Set of Six Engravings of Birds,
Circa 1770
Dimensions: 18 1/2 inches high x 16 inches wide x 1 inch deep.
A Confluence of Talents: The Ornithological Plates of Edwards and Seligmann.
At the heart of this exquisite engraving lies the work of George Edwards (1694-1773), the pioneering figure in British ornithology. His seminal publication, A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and its supplement Gleanings of Natural History, set a new standard for accuracy and artistry, with many species illustrated for the first time from live specimens. Edwards’s work was celebrated for its superb skill and breathtaking hand-coloring, popularizing the art of bird illustration across Europe.
The genius of Edwards's work soon traveled to Nuremberg, where it was skillfully reinterpreted by the German engraver Johann Michael Seligmann for his publication Sammlung Verschiedener Auslandischer un Seltener Vogel. Seligmann did not merely replicate the images; in many cases, he enhanced them, adding lush botanical details and imaginative backgrounds that transformed the scientific studies into superbly decorative works of art.
These six plates are from the French Seligmann edition, published between 1768 and 1776. Offered in excellent condition, each engraving captures both the scientific integrity of Edwards's original observation and the aesthetic refinement of Seligmann's masterful hand, making it a prized piece for any collector of natural history. Each engraving has a wide ivory matte with a red border encasing the engraving. The whole is framed with a frame with gilt scalloping and black and red details on the outer edge.
The engraving depict Certhia fusca minor (#51); Anfer, Canadenfis (#47), Rvticilla, dorfo cinereo (357), Gallinula Brafilienfis (#95), Otis Arabica (#25), Tringeo, pedibus Fuhieae (#91)
References: Fine Bird Books, p.93; Dictionary of Bird Artist, p.431; Nissen, IVB 859; Nissen, SVB 455.
(VM98770)
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- Dimensions
- 16ʺW × 1ʺD × 18.5ʺH
- Styles
- Georgian
- Art Subjects
- Animals
- Frame Type
- Framed
- Designer
- George Edwards
- Period
- Late 18th Century
- Country of Origin
- Germany
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Engraving
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Ivory
- Condition Notes
- God condition God condition less
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