{"product_id":"set-of-four-18th-century-french-encyclopedic-fish-engravings-133-4-x-93-4","title":"Set of Four 18th-Century French Encyclopedic Fish Engravings - 13¾\" x 9¾\"","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis set of four antique French natural-history engravings presents an array of fish species with the precise, orderly character of Enlightenment-era scientific illustration. Each plate brings together several specimens, carefully engraved in profile and identified beneath with their names, creating an appealing balance between detailed observation and crisp typography. Originally published as book plates, the sheets were later individually framed under glass. Their aged paper shows scattered spotting, toning and other visible marks that contribute to their historical character, while the distressed surfaces of the frames complement the engravings particularly well and reinforce their scholarly, timeworn appeal. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e The engravings come from the ichthyology section of Charles-Joseph Panckoucke’s Encyclopédie méthodique, published in Paris in 1788. The volume was compiled by the naturalist Abbé Pierre-Joseph Bonnaterre (1752–1804) and contained 102 plates devoted to fish. The inscription “Bénard direxit” indicates that the plates were engraved under the direction of Bénard, who coordinated the engraving work for Panckoucke’s ambitious publication. Conceived as a more systematically organized successor to Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie, the Encyclopédie méthodique sought to organize contemporary knowledge by subject, making these sheets compelling documents of late 18th-century scientific study and publishing. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e Displayed together, the four plates have a strong, graphic presence, with finely drawn fish, pale paper and repeated scientific captions creating a pleasing visual rhythm. Their worn surfaces and distressed frames are very much part of their charm, adding texture, warmth and a genuine sense of history. Hung as a grid, along a hallway or within a larger gallery wall, they would bring a scholarly, collected note to an interior, while their aquatic subject makes them especially appealing in a coastal home.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCondition and wear consistent with age and use.\u003cbr\u003eEach measures approx. 13¾\" high x 9¾\" wide x 0¾\" thick  \u003cbr\u003eEach measures approx. 35cm high x 25cm wide x 2cm thick \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chez Pluie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54721914765650,"sku":"25801","price":814.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1166\/6698\/files\/DSC07210_d3ce0fea-75e8-4902-ab8f-2115a4af8c57.jpg?v=1789388520","url":"https:\/\/www.chezpluie.com\/products\/set-of-four-18th-century-french-encyclopedic-fish-engravings-133-4-x-93-4","provider":"Chez Pluie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}