Set of Five Hand Colored Snake Engravings, 18th Century

Description

A group of five fine original copperplate engravings, with good hand coloring and with plate marks visible. Double matted in … more A group of five fine original copperplate engravings, with good hand coloring and with plate marks visible. Double matted in gray and framed in very chic contemporary beveled mirrored frames. The engraver Robert Bénard (1734-1777) was responsible for the images, which formed part of Diderot’s masterpiece of the Enlightenment, the Encyclopédie, published between 1751 and 1772. This group of snakes illustrate a popular topic of the time: natural history and the enthusiastic effort to catalogue all known species of animals and plants. Engraved plates are in very good antique condition, with minimal signs of age, minor imperfections and light wear to frames. Can be hung vertically or horizontally, allowing for a variety of arrangements.
H: 21 ¼ W: 17 ¼ D: 1 ¼ less