Original late-19th-century wood engraving of an Alpaca (Auchenia paco), drawn by the celebrated German natural-history artist Gustav Mutzel (1839-1893). Signed in the block at lower left "G. Mutzel n. d. Leben" (nach dem Leben - "from life"), and captioned beneath the image "Fig. 500 - Alpaca (Auchenia paco)." The alpaca is shown in profile against an Andean mountain landscape, rendered with the fine, dense line work these Victorian engravings are prized for.

Mutzel was one of the most admired animal illustrators of his era. His work for Brehm's Tierleben was famously praised by Charles Darwin as the best he had ever seen. His mammal engravings were reused in the great English-language natural histories of the 1880s-1890s. This plate comes from a work in that tradition, and dates to c. 1880s-1890s.

Attractively framed with a red mat in a carved wood frame by the Luxton-Jones Gallery (Shelburne, VT). Clean and ready to hang.

References

Library of Congress Name Authority File: Mutzel, G. (Gustav), 1839-1893 - LCCN no90007426. https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no90007426.html

Alfred E. Brehm, Brehms Thierleben (Illustrirtes Thierleben), 2nd ed., 10 vols. (Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut, 1876-1879)

Richard Lydekker (ed.), The Royal Natural History, 6 vols. (London & New York: Frederick Warne & Co., 1893-1896)
https://archive.org/details/royalnaturalhist01lyderich


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Small chip in frame in interior lower right-hand corner. The frame is otherwise in excellent shape. The engraving is also in great shape.

Origin:
United States

Materials & Techniques:
Engraving, Glass, Paper, Printmaking Materials

Details:
Frame Type: Framed
Art Subjects: Animals
Country of Origin: United States
What type of item is it? Vintage / Antique / Used

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Small chip in frame in interior lower right-hand corner. The frame is otherwise in excellent shape. The engraving is also in great shape.