Bilder Joannes Jonstonus (1603–1675) – Armadillo and Tortoises – Engraving (1657)

Beskrivning

"Tatus. Testudo. Schildt Krötte. Testudo Aquatica. Testudo Marina" illustrates four distinct armored creatures including an armadillo and three varieties of tortoises categorized as land, freshwater, and marine specimens. The engraving displays the intricate patterns of the shells and scales, reflecting the seventeenth-century scientific effort to document and differentiate animal species based on their physical habitats and anatomical armor. This work is from the Historiae Naturalis de Quadrupedibus, published in Amsterdam in 1657 by Joannes Jonstonus, which served as a major encyclopedic reference for zoological studies across Europe.

Joannes Jonstonus was a Polish physician and naturalist of Scottish descent who became one of the most prolific compilers of natural history during the mid-seventeenth century. He studied at various European universities and published an extensive series of encyclopedic works covering animals, birds, fish, and insects. His publications are noted for synthesizing the observations of earlier naturalists like Gesner and Aldrovandi into a more accessible format for a Baroque audience. Jonstonus played a significant role in the transition of natural history from Renaissance lore toward the more structured taxonomic systems of the later Enlightenment.

Artist or Maker: Joannes Jonstonus.

Dimensions: Approximately 34 cm x 22 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1657.

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.