Antique Print – LONGHORN BEETLES-BENARD after DIDEROT-ALEMBERT – 1741

Histoire Naturelle, insectses

Engraving / Etching on hand laid (vergé) paper. Watermark: monogram FV.
Sheet size: 24,3 x 39,5 cm. (9,6 x 15,6 inch). Image size: 20 x 33,5 cm. (7,9 x 13,2 inch).

This old antique print originates from: ‘The Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une Société de Gens de lettres.’ which was published under the direction of Diderot and d’Alembert, with 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of plates between 1751 and 1772. It contained 72,000 articles written by more than 140 contributors. This encyclopdia was a massive reference work for the arts and sciences, as well as a means to propagate the ideas of the French Enlightment. The impact of this encyclopedia was enormous.

Made by ‘Benard (monogram AB)’ after an anonymous artist. Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was a French philosopher, art critic and writer. Jean le Rond d’Alembert (1717-1783) was a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist and philosopher. These plates are engraved by J.A.Defehrt and Bonaventure/Benoit-Louis Prevost after J.R Lucotte or Benard after De La Rue / De Boissieu / Martinet.

Condition: Good, given age. Light creasing and soiling. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: LONGHORN BEETLES

PCO-E6-08