Bilder Francois-Hubert Martinet (1731-1800) – View of a Western Capercaillie – Hand-coloured etching (1770)

Beskrivning

"Coq de Bruyere". This work illustrates a male Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) standing in profile on a rocky, earthen mound. The bird is depicted with a dark, slate-grey neck and breast, rich brown wings, and a distinctive red patch above the eye, set against a simple landscape containing a small flowering plant. This hand-coloured etching is from the celebrated ornithological series Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, published in Paris between 1770 and 1783. The plate features the characteristic yellow border that defines this influential series, which sought to catalog the world's birds with unprecedented scientific and artistic detail.

Francois-Hubert Martinet was a French engineer and architect who became one of the most significant natural history illustrators of the eighteenth century. He is best known for his immense contribution to Buffon's Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, for which he designed and engraved nearly one thousand plates. Martinet’s style is recognized for its technical precision and the use of vibrant, hand-applied colours that brought a new level of realism to bird illustration. His work was highly influential, serving as a standard for ornithological publication throughout Europe for decades. In addition to his bird studies, Martinet contributed illustrations to various scientific and theatrical publications, leaving a lasting mark on the visual culture of the Enlightenment.

Artist or Maker:
Francois-Hubert Martinet.

Dimensions:
Approximately 28 cm x 18 cm.

Medium:
Hand-coloured etching.

Date:
1770.

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.