Bilder Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) – Studies of an Orangutan and Various Monkeys – Hand-coloured copper engraving (1775)

Beskrivning

"Plaat VI". This work depicts five distinct primates, including an orangutan seated on a rock, a guenon, and several smaller monkey species such as a cotton-top tamarin and a spider monkey. This hand-coloured copper engraving is from the Dutch edition of the extensive natural history series De algemeene en bijzondere natuurlike historie, published by J.H. Schneider in Amsterdam in 1775. The illustrations in this series were renowned for their attempt to provide an empirical and systematic visual taxonomy of the animal kingdom during the Enlightenment era.

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, was a preeminent French naturalist, mathematician, and cosmologist who served as the director of the Jardin du Roi in Paris. He spent fifty years composing his masterwork, Histoire Naturelle, which challenged traditional biblical timelines and laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology. Buffon was a central figure of the French Enlightenment, influencing generations of scientists including Lamarck and Darwin through his comprehensive observations of the natural world. His work was widely translated and remained the definitive zoological authority across Europe for decades.

Artist or Maker:
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.

Dimensions:
Approximately 21 cm x 20 cm.

Medium:
Hand-coloured copper engraving.

Date:
1775.

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.