Antique Print-FOWL-BIRD-GENESIS-DAY FIVE-CREATION-Scheuchzer-Fussli-1731

Etching/engraving on hand laid (verge) paper. on paper.

Size in cm: The overall size is ca. 23 x 35 cm. The image size is ca. 19.5 x 27.5 cm. Size in inch: The overall size is ca. 9.1 x 13.8 inch. The image size is ca. 7.7 x 10.8 inch.

Antique print, titled: ‘XIV: Genesis Cap. I. v. 20. Opus quintae Diei – Funfftes Tagwerck.’ – (“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.”) Several bird species in a landscape. This fine print originates from: ‘Physica Sacra’ by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer. Scheuchzer believed that the Old Testament was a factual account of the history, of the world. He initiated a major project to explain Biblical events in terms of physics, medicine, and natural history. His aim was to prove the existence of God through science, but the Swiss authorities initially refused to grant him a permit to publish it. Eventually a lushly illustrated edition of this extraordinary work was printed between 1731 and 1735 in the important German publishing center Augsburg. Entitled ‘Jobi physica sacra oder Hiobs Natur-Wissenschaft verglichen mit der heutigen’, the work became known as the Physica Sacra or the Kupfer-Bibel. It became famous for its elaborate baroque illustrations, in which each biblical story was framed with an architectural border containing details relevant to the chapter depicted. The plates were engraved by the best engravers of its time incl. Sperling, Corvinus, Friedrich, Heumann, Sedlezky, Tyroff a.o. Artists and Engravers: Made by ‘I.A. Friderich’ after ‘Johann Melchior Fussli (central image) and Johann Daniel Preissler (borders)’. Jacob Andreas Friderich (1684-1751) was a German engraver of mostly military scenes after Rugendas. Johann Melchior Fussli (Zurich. 1677-1736) was a Swiss artist, engraver and etcher. He is best known for his drawings for the print bible of Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, for which he drew more than 700 designs. Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (Zurich. 1672-1733) was a Swiss scholar.

Condition: Very good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: ANTIQUE PRINT-FOWL-BIRD-GENESIS-DAY FIVE-CREATION-SCHEUCHZER-FUSSLI

(PCO) A294-06