A.COLLAERT
PISCIUM VIVAE ICONES
A rare fish book from the publishing house of J. and C. Collaert, printed in Antwerp in 1610.
Fine suite of engravings bound in a 19th century half leather binding with title on the cover and gold embossing
Size 8 /4 by 10 3/4" ( 26.5cm x 20.5cm. )
With an engraved title and 20 (of 25) copper engravings mounted on laid paper.
No text.
Each engraving is signed.
Shows not only fish but also other water creatures such as walrus, crustaceans (crabs and lobsters), molluscs, whale and turtle.
Some with scenic backgrounds.
Plates 3-5,9 and 25 are missing.
All plates mounted on later backing paper, trimmed.
With bookplate by Dr. Spence
At the end of the 16th century, natural history depended on first-hand observation and accurate visual records, and depiction from nature played an essential role in the development of scientific method.
Here, Adriaen Collaert organizes the marine fauna into similar groups, providing each item with its scientific name.
The scenery in the background is drawn from the mountainous landscapes and buildings in paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, and many of the ships also derive from engravings after Brueghel’s paintings.
The shells scattered in the foreground are not identified by name, despite being faithfully rendered from nature, and play a merely decorative role.
Their position in the scientific world was yet to come.

Adriaen Collaert (c. 1560 – 1618) was a Flemish designer and engraver.


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