Madame Pauline Knip Engravings of a Pigeon, Plate 42, Colombe Tourterelle

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The Elegant Dove: Madame Knip's Engraving of the Turtle Dove, Plate 42
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This is a large and magnificent Hand-Colored … Read more The Elegant Dove: Madame Knip's Engraving of the Turtle Dove, Plate 42
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This is a large and magnificent Hand-Colored Engraving of a pigeon, titled "Colombe Tourterelle" (The Turtle Dove), from the extremely rare and influential French ornithological work, Les Pigeons. The original artwork was created by the acclaimed bird artist Pauline Knip (née Rifer de Courcelles), and the plate was published during the final years of the Napoleonic Empire.

• Subject:
The print meticulously and naturalistically depicts the European Turtle Dove (Columba Turtur, Lath.) perched delicately on a gnarled, mossy branch. The bird’s plumage is rendered with exquisite detail, highlighting its signature delicate scale patterning on the wings and the soft pink-gray coloration of the breast.

• Technique:
The work is a multi-step process, initially printed in color (likely à la poupée) and then carefully finished with hand-coloring to achieve the lifelike vibrancy, tonal depth, and scientific precision required for a major natural history volume.

• Identification:
The plate is identified at the bottom as "Colombe Tourterelle. / COLUMBA TURTUR, Lath." and numbered Plate 42 in the top right corner.

• Presentation:
The print is professionally presented in a classic modern museum style, "floating" within a wide white mat and a substantial gilt frame, protected by high-quality UV Tru-view Clear UV Glass to ensure the preservation of the delicate, antique pigments.

• Artist: Madame Pauline Knip (née de Courcelles, 1781–1851)
• Scientific Name: Columba Turtur, Lath.
• Publication: Les pigeons par Madame Knip, née Pauline de Courcelles ; le texte par C.J. Themminck
• Date: circa 1809–1811 (Paris)
• Medium: Color-printed and Hand-Colored Engraving
• Dimensions (Framed): 28 ¾ inches Highx 21 3/4 inches Wide x 1 1/4Deep
• (Sight): 20 3/4 inches High x 13 1/4 inches Wide

Historical Context: Artistic Ambition in Early 19th-Century Science

This engraving represents a high point in the art of scientific illustration, produced at a time when detailed ornithological studies were patronized by European elites.

• Pauline Knip's Skill: Madame Knip, who studied under the famous illustrator Jacques Barraband, was recognized in her time as one of the finest bird artists. Her paintings were the basis for the illustrations in this comprehensive study of pigeons and gallinaceous birds, showcasing the species' diversity and delicate beauty.

• The Work's Controversy: The publishing history of Les Pigeons is famous for the controversy surrounding its authorship. Although the scientific text was the work of the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck, Knip controversially asserted artistic and editorial control, publishing the final parts under her own name and dedicating the work to Empress Marie Louise. This act of self-promotion, a "piece of truly feminine finesse" as one historian called it, secured her high profile and patronage, making the work a fascinating object of art and history.

References
• Knip, Pauline, and Temminck, C. J. Les pigeons par Madame Knip... (Paris, 1809–1811). (Original publication source).
• Neuman, Alexandra K. "Publishing, Pretense, and Pigeons: The Case of Madame Knip." Smithsonian Libraries Blog (Scholarly discussion of the work's historical and publishing context).
• Biodiversity Heritage Library and Museum Collections (e.g., MIA, Smithsonian Libraries) confirm the plate's details and scientific name within the larger Les Pigeons series.

(Ref: NY9698-10) See less