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Pair of Antique Engravings of Beetles & Insects from Diderot’s Encyclopédie 1770
€290 ($325, £245, €290)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1770
- Size
- 15.4 × 9.8 in (39 × 25 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Condition report: Both plates in good condition with strong platemarks. Some age-related toning and light foxing in margins, but images remain sharp and well-detailed. Offered as two separate folio sheets, unframed.
- Period
- 18th century
- Section
- Insects and butterflies
- Reference
- f_46681352
Pair of Antique Engravings of Beetles and Insects from Diderot’s Encyclopédie, ca. 1770
A finely detailed pair of copperplate engravings from Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert’s monumental Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, Paris, circa 1770. These plates come from the Histoire naturelle section devoted to insects and depict an impressive array of beetles and related species.
The first plate (Pl. LXXVII) features several large beetles, including a striking stag beetle with extended mandibles, alongside other elongated ground beetles. Also included is a grasshopper, rendered with precision to highlight its distinctive legs and body structure, as well as smaller beetle species with varying forms. The engraver’s sharp linework captures the segmented bodies, textured wings, and delicate antennae with clarity.
The second plate (Pl. LXXV) presents a collection of beetles, among them a massive rhinoceros beetle, a Hercules beetle, and a scarab-like insect shown with spread wings in flight. Surrounding these dominant figures are smaller specimens of different beetle families, emphasizing the taxonomic diversity that fascinated Enlightenment naturalists.
These engravings are remarkable for both their scientific and decorative qualities. Produced for the folio edition of the *Encyclopédie*, they exemplify the encyclopedists’ ambition to catalog the natural world, combining empirical observation with careful artistic rendering. Today, they remain valuable as historical documents of 18th-century entomology and as visually striking works of art.
Condition report: Both plates in good condition with strong platemarks. Some age-related toning and light foxing in margins, but images remain sharp and well-detailed. Offered as two separate folio sheets, unframed.
Framing tips: These insect engravings are highly effective when displayed together. Wide ivory or cream mounts will highlight the fine engraving lines, while dark wood or black frames will give them a dramatic, scholarly presence. For subtle emphasis, consider double matting with a thin red or green inner line to echo the natural tones of beetles and enhance their decorative impact.
Technique: Copperplate engraving
Maker: Denis Diderot & Jean le Rond d’Alembert, Paris, ca. 1770
