Bidspirit auction | Merian & Jonston - Mermaid

Merian & Jonston - Mermaid or Merman with Fish & Sea Life - This exceptional copper engraving is from Merian & Jonston's ”Historia Naturalis”. The work was published in Amsterdam in 1660 by J. J. Schipper. Matthias Merian completed the copper plate engravings after the original drawings of John Jonston. John Jonston studied medicine and natural sciences St. Andrews, Cambridge, and Leiden. He published major natural history studies, including ”Thaumatographia Naturalis” in 1632. The work detailed knowledge of astronomy, paleontology, plants, animals and man. He also published ”Theatrum Universale Omnium Animalium” in 1650. The plates for this work were after his own drawings and engraved by Matthias Merian. The images were of a wide range of animal species. Matthaus Merian was a noted engraver and also ran his own publishing house. He learned the art of copperplate engraving originally in Zurich, but travelled much of Europe improving upon his craft. The Merian family is celebrated for the many remarkable additions made to the knowledge of the natural world. Paper Size: ~ 8 1/8” by 13 1/2” Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving