Bilder Francis Willughby (1635-1672) – Studies of the Gambo-goose, Swan-goose, and Sheldrake – Engraving (1678)

Beskrivning

"Anser Gambensis The Gambo-goose, Anser cygnoides The Swan-goose, Tadorna Bellonij The Sheldrake or Burrough Duck". This work illustrates three species of waterfowl in a landscape setting with reeds and a small tree. This engraving is from the first English edition of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby, published in London by John Martyn in 1678. The work is considered the foundation of scientific ornithology, as it was the first to organize birds into a systematic classification based on physical characteristics rather than folklore or alphabetical order.

Francis Willughby was an English ornithologist and ichthyologist who, along with his colleague John Ray, pioneered the study of natural history through direct observation. He traveled extensively across Europe to collect specimens and record data, though he died at a young age before his research could be fully published. John Ray subsequently edited and completed Willughby's manuscripts, ensuring the preservation of their revolutionary taxonomic system. Their collaborative efforts shifted the field of zoology toward an empirical approach that profoundly influenced later naturalists like Carl Linnaeus.

Artist or Maker:
Francis Willughby.

Dimensions:
Approximately 33 cm x 21 cm.

Medium:
Engraving.

Date:
1678.

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.