Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863
Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, view 2

Close-ups

Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, close-up 1Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, close-up 2Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, close-up 3

Framed and on the wall

Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, shown framedZebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, shown framed on a wallZebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.

Zebu Bull, Humped Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863

$480 (£365, €430)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.

Date
1863
Technique
Chromolithograph
Coloring
Printed in color
Condition
Good. Complete sheet, edges straight and without nicks. Light, uneven toning, lightly soiled along the bottom, left, right and top edges. A few small foxing spots in the margin.
Period
Late 19th century
Section
Mammals
Reference
BG-13174-46
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in color from several lithographic stones, from Victor Borie's Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine, published in Paris about 1863. The plate is lettered "ZÉBU, MALE" (Zebu, male). The zebu bull stands in profile facing the viewer's left with his head turned slightly toward the viewer. He is a sleek, black animal with a large, rounded hump of shaggy hair rising over the shoulders, upswept horns, ears lined in pink, a deep dewlap and fine legs. His tail falls to a short switch. He stands on a sandy yellow ground, with a gray shadow at his feet and a soft gray band behind.

Above the image, the plate is headed Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine (Farm Animals, Cattle), with the imprint "Lib. Agricole de la Maison Rustique rue Jacob, 26, Paris" at left (the agricultural bookshop of the Maison Rustique), and "par Victor Borie" (by Victor Borie) at right. Below the image, the artist's credit reads "Ol. de Penne. Pinx.t" and the printer's line reads "Imp. Zanote, rue des Boulangers, 13, Paris" (printed by Zanote, rue des Boulangers, Paris). The abbreviation stands for pinxit, painted it. The artist is the French animal painter Charles Olivier de Penne (1831 to 1897).

The zebu, the humped cattle of South Asia and Africa, is shown here alongside the European breeds. Borie's album sets out the cattle of France alongside British and other foreign breeds, each animal shown in profile on a plain ground so that build, coat and horns can be compared. It was issued by the Librairie Agricole de la Maison Rustique, the Paris publisher of agricultural books.

The clear profile and warm palette suit a kitchen, study or country house, alone or with other plates from the series.

Condition: Complete sheet, edges straight and without nicks. Light, uneven toning, lightly soiled along the bottom, left, right and top edges. A few small foxing spots in the margin.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.

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