The print features a detailed lithograph of a mouflon, a wild sheep native to the mountains of Europe, depicted in a naturalistic setting. The mouflon is shown standing on a rocky outcrop, with a dramatic, craggy mountain peak in the background that suggests its rugged, alpine habitat.
The image is finely executed with a keen eye for anatomical accuracy and texture, capturing the dense fur and the characteristic spiral horns of the mouflon. The shading and detailing in the rocks and the mouflon’s body demonstrate a high level of skill in lithographic technique, typical of scientific illustrations from the 19th century aimed at both artistic appeal and educational value.
The text beneath the image includes "Lfg. v. H.R. Württemberg" and "del. et lith. F. Huegy," which likely identifies the lithographer and the artist who prepared the drawing for lithographic printing. The caption "Ovis montana Geoff." refers to the scientific name of the species, attributing its classification possibly to a naturalist named Geoffroy (suggesting Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire).
This print, with its blend of scientific detail and artistic composition, is characteristic of natural history illustrations from the mid to late 19th century. Such works were essential in disseminating knowledge about biology and natural history to a broader audience, serving both scientific and educational purposes.
In more detail:
The text visible in the image reads as follows:
- "Lfg. v. H.R. Württemberg" - This likely indicates the lithographer or engraver responsible for transferring the design onto the lithographic stone. "Lfg." could stand for "Lieferung," a German term meaning "issue" or "delivery," suggesting this might be part of a series. "H.R. Württemberg" likely refers to a person's name or initials, possibly connected to a geographic or institutional name like Württemberg.
- "Gros montana Geoff." - This text probably refers to the subject of the illustration, which is likely the Alpine accentor, known scientifically as "Prunella collaris." The term "Gros montana" suggests a translation or variant of the bird’s name, perhaps used in an older or regional nomenclatural system. "Geoff" might be an abbreviation of the name of a person associated with the study or classification of this bird, possibly Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, a renowned French biologist.
- "del. et lith. F. Huegy." - "Del." stands for "delineavit," Latin for "he/she drew it," indicating the artist who drew the original design. "Lith." stands for "lithograph," and "F. Huegy" is the name of the artist who both drew and transferred the image onto the lithographic stone.
This image and text are indicative of scientific illustrations from the 18th or 19th centuries, where such details were crucial for identifying and cataloging new species in the age of exploration and scientific discovery. The meticulous detail in the artwork reflects the emphasis on accuracy and fidelity to the subjects' true appearances, which were essential for scientific works of the period.
The engraving style, along with the use of lithography and the manner of text notation, strongly suggests that this print likely dates from the mid to late 19th century. Lithography became a popular method for producing scientific and natural history illustrations around the early 1800s due to its ability to reproduce fine details and subtle gradations of tone.
Considering the nomenclature and scientific interest in documenting flora and fauna, along with the aesthetic style of the illustration, a reasonable estimate would be around the 1850s to 1870s. This period was a golden age of scientific exploration and documentation, with numerous works published that focused on the detailed naturalistic representation of species, supported by advancements in printing technologies like lithography.
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.