Bilder Francois-Hubert Martinet (1731-1800) – View of a Common Paradise Kingfisher – Hand-coloured etching (1770)

Beskrivning

"Martin-pêcheur, de Ternate". This work depicts a Common Paradise Kingfisher perched on a diagonal branch, shown in profile with its vibrant blue head and wings, white underparts, and a bright red beak. The composition highlights the bird's exceptionally long, racket-shaped tail feathers, a defining characteristic of the species found in the Maluku Islands. This hand-coloured etching is from the monumental series Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, published in Paris between 1770 and 1783. The plate is enclosed by the iconic yellow border that served as the hallmark of this comprehensive and prestigious eighteenth-century ornithological study.

Francois-Hubert Martinet was a French engineer and architect who established himself as one of the preeminent natural history illustrators of the Enlightenment era. He is best known for his massive undertaking in designing and engraving nearly one thousand copperplates for Buffon's Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. Martinet’s artistic style is celebrated for its scientific precision and the vividness of the hand-applied watercolours, which accurately captured the plumage of exotic birds for a European audience. His illustrations became a primary reference for naturalists and significantly influenced the development of ornithological art. Martinet also contributed plates to the famous Encyclopédie of Diderot and d’Alembert, documenting various technical and scientific subjects beyond the natural world.

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.