Bilder Robert Benard (1734–1777) – Net Fishing Techniques – Engraving (1774)

Beskrivning

"Peches aux Filets" This engraving illustrates various methods of net fishing employed in the eighteenth century. The upper section contains a detailed diagram of a long net and a larger seine net shown in a curved deployment to trap fish. The central scene depicts a shore-based operation where two teams of laborers haul a net onto a rocky beach from the surf, with a coastal town visible on the cliffs in the background. The bottom register shows a fishing vessel under sail at sea, with crew members actively managing the rigging and nets. This work was published in the French edition of the voyages of discovery, translated and compiled by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard and printed in Paris.

Robert Benard was a prolific French engraver who served as the director of the engraving department for the monumental Diderot Encyclopedie. He specialized in technical and scientific illustration, personally supervising the production of over 2000 plates that documented industrial processes, mechanical inventions, and geographic discoveries. Benard's work is defined by its extreme clarity and rigorous attention to detail, which was essential for communicating complex engineering and cartographic data to a broad audience. His contributions were fundamental to the success of the major scientific publications of the eighteenth century, and his style set a high standard for technical engraving throughout the Enlightenment era.

Artist or Maker: Robert Benard.

Dimensions: Approximately 31 cm x 23 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1774.

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.