18th-Century French Hand-Colored Engraving of Painted Buntings by François-Nicolas Martinet - 16¼" x 12¼"

This charming 18th-century French hand-colored engraving is plate 159 from the Planches enluminées d’histoire naturelle, the important series produced in Paris between 1765 and 1783. Drawn and engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet (1731–1800), it depicts a pair of Painted Buntings (Passerina ciris), with the softly colored green female above and the remarkably vivid male below, historically known in French as “Le Pape" (the Pope). His blue head, green back, and rich red breast create a wonderfully lively contrast, framed by a fine yellow ruled border. 

The sheet shows gentle toning, scattered spotting, and age-related marks. It is presented under glass in an aged giltwood frame with rubbing, scratches, and small losses to the gilding. The print has slipped within the frame and now sits noticeably askew, so reframing or remounting is recommended to reposition it correctly and ensure its long-term preservation.

The printed species name beneath the image has been crossed through and corrected in ink, apparently to “Verdier de la Louisiane,” an appealing historical detail that reflects the changing nomenclature surrounding these newly classified American birds.

With its rich palette of red, blue, green, and warm yellow, the plate has a wonderfully lively decorative presence while retaining the refined character of an antique natural-history illustration.