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Two Species of Wrasse Fish, Hand-Colored Engraving, c.1780
$225 (£170, €200)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1780
- Size
- 8 × 10 in (20.2 × 25.3 cm)
- Condition
- Fair. To Good impression with original hand-coloring. Light overall toning, faint water stains near the margins, and slight edge wear consistent with age. Manuscript writing adds to its patina. Tape remains in the top border.
- Period
- 18th century
- Section
- Fish and shells
- Reference
- f_47118632
Two Species of Wrasse Fish, Hand-Colored Engraving, c.1780
Beautiful 18th-century hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting two species of wrasse fish, titled in manuscript Le labre noir (The Black Wrasse) and Le labre d’anguilles vertes (The Green Eel Wrasse). The plate is numbered LXXXVI in the upper right corner and comes from a French natural history work published around 1780.
The upper fish, the “Black Wrasse,” is rendered in natural shades of olive and brown with precisely engraved scales and fins, while the lower specimen displays vibrant blue and green facial markings typical of tropical reef wrasses. The artist’s fine detailing of the scales and subtle use of hand-applied watercolor give both species a lifelike sheen.
Such engravings were part of the great European scientific expeditions and natural history studies of the Enlightenment era, when artists and naturalists collaborated to document exotic marine species from voyages to Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The prints served both scientific and decorative purposes, appealing to scholars and collectors alike for their combination of accuracy and elegance.
A striking example of 18th-century natural history illustration, notable for its artistic refinement and color preservation.
Condition: Good impression with original hand-coloring. Light overall toning, faint water stains near the margins, and slight edge wear consistent with age.
Framing tips: A gold or black wooden frame with a wide ivory or pale blue mat will complement the subtle aquatic tones and highlight the engraving’s refined craftsmanship.
Technique: Hand-colored copperplate engraving on laid paper
Maker: Anonymous French engraver, France, circa 1780
