Title: 1805 Hand-Colored Engraving of Fungi Specimens from Bertuch’s Work
Description: This stunning hand-colored engraving comes from Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s *Porte-Feuille des Enfants* (Children's Portfolio), published in 1805. The print features two detailed and artistic depictions of fungi specimens, providing a fascinating glimpse into the scientific and artistic approach to natural history during the early 19th century.
The upper illustration (Fig. 1) showsa bivalve-like fungal growth, likely a bracket fungus, with intricate textures and patterns on its surface. The lower illustration (Fig. 2) portrays a more rugged, layered fungus, possibly a polypore species. Both figures are set against a finely hatched background, emphasizing their three-dimensional qualities and intricate details.
This engraving exemplifies the Enlightenment-era fascination with cataloging and understanding the natural world. Bertuch’s work was widely admired for its ability to educate young readers about the diversity and complexity of nature, blending scientific inquiry with artistic excellence.
Collectors of antique natural history prints will appreciate the vibrant hand-coloring and scientific precision of this piece. It makes a valuable addition to collections focused on botany, fungi, or early educational illustrations.
Condition: Minor foxing along edges with light toning; the colors remain vibrant and visually appealing.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.