After Edwards, The Lesser Grey Shrike Bird, Hand-Colored Engraving, 1749

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The illustration is indicative of the works that emerged from the collaborations and influences of the 18th-century naturalists like george … Read more The illustration is indicative of the works that emerged from the collaborations and influences of the 18th-century naturalists like george edwards and johann michael seligmann. George edwards was an english naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of british ornithology". He produced a number of works that were richly detailed with illustrations of birds and animals, many of which were later reproduced or reinterpreted by other artists and naturalists across europe. Johann michael seligmann was a german engraver and natural history illustrator who is well known for his contributions to ornithological art. One of his notable works was the re-engraving and coloration of plates from edwards's "a natural history of uncommon birds" and "gleanings of natural history", enhancing them with his own artistic style and european scientific observations. This original handcolored engraving is a fine example of this cross-cultural scientific exchange and the detailed, ornate style of natural history illustration that was prevalent in the 18th century. The careful attention to the birds' features, the vibrant coloring, and the inclusion of the plants in the composition are characteristic of the period's emphasis on both scientific accuracy and aesthetic beauty. Seligmann's collections were instrumental in disseminating knowledge of exotic species throughout europe and remain valued for their historical and artistic merit. The text on the engraving is in three different languages, each providing the name for the bird depicted: 1. German: "der kleine würger" - translates to "the little strangler", which is likely referring to the lesser grey shrike's hunting behavior, as shrikes are known for impaling their prey on thorns or barbed wire. 2. Latin: "lanius minimus" - this is the scientific name for the lesser grey shrike. In binomial nomenclature, the first part of the name (lanius) refers to the genus, which includes shrikes, and the second part (minimus) means "smallest" or "least", denoting this as a smaller species within the genus. 3. French: "la petite pie-grièche" - this translates to "the little shrike". "pie-grièche" is the french term for shrikes, which are known as butcher birds because of their habit of impaling prey. The text at the bottom provides additional context: - the text "cum priv. Sac. Caes. Majest." indicates that the work was made with the privilege (permission) of the sacred imperial majesty, suggesting that it was officially sanctioned and perhaps even sponsored or protected by the royal authority at the time. - the initials "n.51" likely refer to the plate number within the collection or book from which this illustration is taken. - "tab. V." could denote "table v" or "tafel v", indicating this image might be from the fifth table or plate series in the collection. - "e. Seligmann excud." - "excudit" is latin for "he/she made it". This is the mark of the engraver, indicating that seligmann engraved the plate. The illustration's style, the scientific precision of the birds, and the use of multiple languages for the titles were common in natural history works of the 18th century, which were often intended for an international audience of both scientists and lay enthusiasts. See less