Bilder Joannes Jonstonus (1603–1675) – Chameleons and Crocodiles – Engraving (1657)

Beskrivning

"Chamæleon Cinereus Verus. Chamæleon. Crocodilus Crocodyll. Landiuerba" illustrates four reptilian species including two chameleons perched on branches, a large crocodile with detailed osteoderms, and a thick-bodied lizard variety. The engraving displays the distinctive morphological features of each animal, reflecting the seventeenth-century scientific commitment to the visual cataloging of global fauna. This work is from the Historiae Naturalis de Quadrupedibus, published in Amsterdam in 1657 by Joannes Jonstonus, which served as a premier encyclopedic collection of zoological knowledge during the Baroque period.

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.