Coq. [Rooster]

Description

Original hand-colour copper engraving. EXTREMELY RARE

Ornithological print from Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, pl. 1 [of 1008] [Natural History of Birds]. Not endemic – domesticated. Habitat: farms, backyards, agricultural areas, rural villages, coconut plantations, mixed farmland and urban settlements throughout the Philippines. This magnificent plate on fine chain-linked paper features a delicate yellow border, which many believe led to the development of French matting.

Buffon (1707-1788) was the preeminent scientist and mathematician of the late 18th century. He directed the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris, which still exists today. His most outstanding achievement came in the field of natural history with the publication of the monumental Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière (1749-1788) in 36 vols, for which Martinet created all the bird illustrations. ‘Francois Nicolas Martinet (1725-1804) was the French court engraver and the foremost bird artist of his day, who also created work for Marmontel, Voltaire, and Philidor. Martinet prints remain true masterpieces in the world of bird art.