SEA MONSTER CENTIPEDE WHALE 1558 VERY RARE RONDELET WOODCUT ENGRAVING VGC

Description: GUILLAUME RONDELT "L 'Histoire entire des poissons" 1558 SCOLOPENDRE cétacée - Sea Monster Legend has it that these monsters had numerous feet in line on either side, and were so fearsome that "If cast up on the shore no one would have the courage to look at them" (Ref: Aelian, On Animals - Greek Natural History C2nd - 3rd AD) With fine professional colouring, this rare and original woodcut is from Guillaume Rondelet's magnificent “L’Histoire entire des poissons.” Published in Lyon, France, in 1558 Rondelet (1507 -1566) a distinguished zoologist, anatomist and professor of medicine at the University of Montpellier, was seen as “the grandfather of modern ichthyology” and attracted students for all over Europe to his lectures, including eminent zoologists, Ulisse Aldrovandi and Conrad Gesner “L’Histoire entire des poissons” is considered the most important and influential of the three illustrated ichthyological books published in the 16th century. Rondelet covers more species than Belon’s 1553 and Salviani’s 1554/7 works “I…at great expense have sought various kinds of fish, in our sea in the Languedoc, in France, in Italy, and other places. Some of them were sent to me by my friends. I opened them and dissected them. I diligently contemplated all of their interior and exterior parts.” Guillaume Rondelet “Rondelet is superior to the other two authors in the number of fishes he knew, and even though his drawings, which are wood engravings, do not compare to Salviani’s for beauty, they have great accuracy and are especially remarkable for their characteristic details” (Pietsch - Cuvier - Historical Portrait of the Progress of Ichthyology 1995) (Watermarks are not on the original prints) *You can be sure of owning an original print that is beautifully produced and is also a good investment With our extensive knowledge and meticulous research their authenticity is guaranteed We do not sell reproductions of any kind

Price: 100 GBP

Location: London

End Time: 2024-11-21T13:04:59.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25.71 GBP