Bilder George Shaw (1751-1813) – Basking Shark (female) – Engraving (1804)

Beskrivning

"Basking Shark. female" This engraving provides a detailed profile of a female basking shark, the second-largest extant fish species. The illustration captures the shark's characteristic elongated snout, massive gill slits, and distinctive fin structure, rendered with the precise linework characteristic of early nineteenth-century natural history prints. This plate was published in General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History, a comprehensive multi-volume series printed in London by George Kearsley. The work was intended to provide a scientifically rigorous visual and textual catalog of the animal kingdom for scholars and the educated public.

George Shaw was a prominent English physician and botanist who served as the keeper of the Natural History Department at the British Museum. A co-founder of the Linnean Society, he was deeply committed to the systematic classification of species according to Linnean principles. His monumental General Zoology series became a foundational reference work, noted for its inclusion of newly discovered species from around the globe. Shaw collaborated with elite engravers to ensure that the anatomical details of each specimen were reproduced with the highest degree of accuracy possible during the period.

Artist or Maker: George Shaw.

Dimensions: Approximately 21 cm x 13 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1804.

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.