Old engraving from 1839 - Polymmate Butterflies - by Dumesnil - hand-coloured

Magnificent authentic engraving 186 years old, not a simple reproduction: Polymmate Butterflies • Edition: in 1839 • Size: 18 x 28.5 cm • Artist: Auguste Dumesnil • Hand-coloured at the time with the utmost care on elegant, light cream vintage paper • Condition: good condition, with minor defects inherent to time, binding, and the nature of the paper, particularly in the left margin. See also the photos The artist of the work is Auguste Dumesnil, a 19th-century illustrator and painter-engraver, specialist in naturalist plates (zoology, botany, and natural phenomena). A versatile artist, he mastered the entire chain of iconographic creation, acting both as an original designer and as a precision engraver for the major scientific works of his time. This engraving comes from a dictionary of natural history, published in 1839, an emblematic work of the great illustrated encyclopaedias of the 19th century. It reflects the high artistic and scientific standards sought by this work, where the accuracy of naturalistic observation is combined with a careful and elegant composition. Authentic and original, it bears witness to the desire to disseminate knowledge through imagery while celebrating the beauty of the natural world. The book is a major reference in illustrated natural history. Polymmate Butterflies are small lepidopterans with delicate, colourful wings, often bluish or iridescent. Their light and graceful flight makes them fascinating to observe in meadows and gardens. • Find all my lithographs and prints in my shop • Send me a message for any questions • Fast delivery and careful packaging for a risk-free reception • For bulk purchases, send me a message for a single shipping fee and to discuss a discount Reference: 28-1-596