Bilder Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822) – Various Wading Birds – Illustration (1792)

Beskrivning

This natural history illustration features a collection of six wading birds, including species such as herons and bitterns, arranged in a systematic composition. Each bird is shown in a standing profile on a small mossy mound, highlighting differences in plumage patterns, beak shapes, and neck lengths. The work is from the Picture Book for Children (Bilderbuch für Kinder), an ambitious educational project intended to provide a visual encyclopedia of the natural world for young learners. The hand-colored plate serves as both a scientific record and a pedagogical tool, reflecting the Enlightenment-era's focus on categorizing and documenting global biodiversity.

Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822) was a prominent German publisher, author, and entrepreneur based in Weimar, who became a central figure in the city's intellectual life. He is best known for his monumental twelve-volume work, the Bilderbuch für Kinder, which contained over one thousand hand-colored plates covering subjects from botany and zoology to anthropology and technology. Bertuch’s dedication to high-quality educational materials made his publications a standard for pedagogical illustration across Europe, influencing the development of natural history education for generations.

Artist or Maker: Friedrich Justin Bertuch.

Dimensions: Approximately 24 cm x 20 cm.

Medium: Illustration.

Date: 1792.

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.