Bilder Robert Benard (1734–1777) – Cod Fishing and Processing – Engraving (1774)

Beskrivning

"Pêches de Mer, Pêche de la Morue" This engraving provides a detailed three-part illustration of the eighteenth-century cod fishing industry. The upper register (Figure 1) features a cross-section of a fishing vessel, showing the specialized stations where sailors processed the catch directly on deck. The central scene illustrates the manual labor involved in preparing the fish, including workers gutting cod on wooden tables and packing them into large barrels. The lower register (Figure 3) depicts the final stage of the process, showing laborers piling and salting the processed fish on shore. This plate 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 Encyclopédie. He specialized in technical and scientific illustration, personally supervising the production of over 2,000 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 maritime data to an Enlightenment audience. His contributions were fundamental to the success of major scientific publications of the eighteenth century, and his style set an international standard for technical engraving.

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.