"Pêches de Mer, Pêche de la Morue." This engraving presents two horizontal registers illustrating the maritime and terrestrial operations of the eighteenth-century cod fishing industry. The upper register features a fleet of various sailing vessels at sea, including small boats and larger three-masted ships, engaged in active fishing maneuvers under a clouded sky. The lower register depicts a coastal scene where several laborers are working on a beach to process the catch, with large piles of dried or salted cod stacked on the right and figures carrying and preparing the fish in the foreground. This work was published in Paris as part of the monumental Recueil de Planches for the Encyclopédie of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert, a landmark project of the Enlightenment designed to document all human knowledge and mechanical arts. Robert Bénard was a highly accomplished French engraver who specialized in technical and scientific illustration. He served as the primary director for the engraving department of the Encyclopédie, personally supervising the production of over nine hundred plates. His work is characterized by a precise, clear aesthetic that prioritized educational accuracy and the elevation of manual trades to a subject of serious intellectual study. Artist or Maker: Robert Bénard. Dimensions: Approximately 30 cm x 23 cm. Medium: Engraving. Date: 1771.

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.