Bilder Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) – Gymnotus Carapus and Gymnotus Macrurus – Hand-Coloured Engraving – 1785

Beskrivning

This elegant hand-coloured engraving features two eel-like species from Bloch’s ichthyological series: Gymnotus Carapus (upper) and Gymnotus Macrurus (lower). Both specimens are depicted with fine anatomical detail, including distinctive markings and scale texture, with inset diagrams showing the form of their electrical organs. The richly toned copperplate rendering captures the naturalistic curves and patterns of each fish. This plate comes from Bloch’s Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische, a monumental scientific and artistic endeavor spanning more than 400 fish species.

Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) was a Jewish-German physician and ichthyologist whose pioneering visual catalogues of marine life became essential reference works in the 18th century. Bloch’s emphasis on precision, colouration, and taxonomic clarity remains influential in scientific illustration. His volumes were among the first to depict exotic fish species from the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

Artist or Maker:
Marcus Elieser Bloch

Dimensions:
27 cm x 46 cm

Medium:
Hand-Coloured Engraving

Date:
1785

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.