Rare Barbary Sheep Engraving, Hand-Coloured Buffon Amsterdam Edition, 1769

Rare 1769 Barbary Sheep Engraving, Hand-Coloured Buffon Amsterdam Edition

This handsome hand-coloured 18th-century engraving, titled Le Mouton de Barbarie (Plate XXXVIII from Tome XI), comes from the 1769 Amsterdam Dutch edition of Buffon’s monumental Histoire Naturelle. Drawn by Jacques de Sève, Buffon’s principal illustrator, and engraved for the Amsterdam printers with the distinctive soft colour palette of the Schneider edition, this plate offers a beautifully observed portrait of the Barbary sheep, an important North African breed.

The sheep is shown standing in profile on a raised grassy foreground, its wool carefully rendered with layered hatching that captures both texture and volume. Its curled horns, expressive eye, spotted facial markings, and upright posture give the animal a spirited and alert character. The hand colouring is delicately applied, with warm ivory and soft greys in the fleece, contrasted by darker tones in the horns and facial markings. The result is an image that is not only scientifically valuable but also highly decorative.

Behind the sheep stretches a landscape of North African architecture, with domes, towers, minarets, and palm trees suggesting a setting near Barbary coastal towns of the 18th century. De Sève’s sky, layered with rolling cloud formations and shifting light, adds atmosphere and depth to the composition. This interplay of animal portraiture and exotic landscape is one of the reasons Buffon’s quadruped plates remain so desirable among collectors and interior designers.

Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle was one of the largest and most ambitious publishing projects of the Enlightenment, and the Amsterdam edition is particularly admired for its fine hand colouring. This engraving represents one of the earliest widely circulated European depictions of the Barbary sheep, a species known for its adaptability to arid climates and its historical importance across North Africa.

More than 250 years old, the sheet has retained its charm, richness of detail, and strong plate impression. It makes a striking standalone artwork or pairs beautifully with related North African or Middle Eastern animal plates from Buffon’s series.

Condition report:

Very good overall condition. Wide margins with light toning at the edges. A small, faint water stain in the upper margin, well outside the image. Minimal foxing, mostly confined to blank margins. Strong plate impression and fresh hand colouring. No tears or repairs.

Framing tips:

A warm cream or pale sand-coloured mat complements the earthy tones of the fleece and the architecture. A natural walnut, oak, or light gilt frame enhances the classical character of the engraving. Floating the sheet is an excellent way to highlight the generous margins and plate mark.

Keywords:

Buffon Barbary sheep

Amsterdam 1769 edition

hand coloured engraving

Jacques de Sève

North African sheep print

18th century natural history

Le Mouton de Barbarie

antique zoology illustration

decorative animal artwork

natural history copperplate engraving