Bilder Johannes Jonston (1603-1675) – View of an Elephant with Mahout – Copper engraving (1650)

Beskrivning

"Elephas. Elephant." This work depicts an African elephant from a rear three-quarter perspective with a rider, or mahout, wearing a hat and cape seated upon its back. This copper engraving is from the quadrupeds volume of the encyclopedia Historiae Naturalis de Quadrupetibus Libri, published by Matthäus Merian in Frankfurt in 1650. The image is notable for its detailed rendering of the animal's skin texture and represents the seventeenth-century fascination with exotic wildlife brought to Europe from distant lands.

Johannes Jonston was a Polish physician, naturalist, and polymath of Scottish descent who authored influential works on zoology. He received his education at several prestigious European universities and spent much of his life traveling and documenting the natural world. His most significant contribution, Historiae Naturalis, became a fundamental reference text across Europe for over a century due to its breadth of information. Jonston is distinguished for his methodical classification of the animal kingdom based on both literary research and contemporary visual records.

Artist or Maker:
Johannes Jonston.

Dimensions:
Approximately 34 cm x 21 cm.

Medium:
Copper engraving.

Date:
1650.

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.