Bilder François-Nicolas Martinet (1731–1800) – Poule, du Japon – Hand-coloured etching (1770)

Beskrivning

"Poule, du Japon" depicts a Silkie chicken, a breed known for its atypical fluffy plumage, feathered legs, and distinct cranial crest. This hand-coloured etching is a plate from the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, published by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, in Paris between 1770 and 1786. The illustration is part of the Planches Enluminées series, which documented exotic and domestic bird species for the royal natural history collections of France.

François-Nicolas Martinet was a French engineer and engraver who became the most celebrated bird illustrator of the eighteenth century. He served as the official engraver to the Cabinet du Roi and worked closely with the leading naturalists of his time to document global avian species. His technique combined rigorous anatomical precision with a delicate use of hand-applied colour to capture the textures of varied plumages. Martinet’s prolific output for Buffon’s multi-volume series helped define the visual language of the Enlightenment's natural history movement.

Artist or Maker: François-Nicolas Martinet.

Dimensions: Approximately 28 cm x 18 cm.

Medium: Hand-coloured etching.

Date: 1770.

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.