11456 Robert Bénard (1734–1777) – View of Cod Fishing – Engraving (1778)
"Pêches de Mer, Pêche de la Morue." This engraving provides a detailed illustration of the industrial process of cod fishing and processing on a coastal station. The composition shows several wooden structures built on stilts over the water, where workers are engaged in cleaning, salting, and drying the fish. In the foreground, a small sailing vessel is moored near the shore, while various figures are seen carrying heavy loads of fish toward the processing huts. The background features a vast expanse of water and a line of trees or drying racks extending along the beach. This print was published in Paris as part of the Recueil de Planches for the Encyclopédie of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert. It serves as an important technical and historical record of the eighteenth-century maritime industry and the labor practices associated with the Atlantic fish trade.
Robert Bénard was a highly prolific French engraver who specialized in technical and scientific illustrations during the Age of Enlightenment. Based in Paris, he was primarily known for his massive contribution to the plates of the Encyclopédie, where he oversaw the production of thousands of engravings documenting trades, sciences, and the arts. His work is characterized by remarkable clarity and precision, designed to convey complex mechanical and industrial processes to a broad intellectual audience. Bénard's technical mastery made him one of the most sought-after engravers of his time for large-scale publishing projects. His legacy remains central to the visual history of eighteenth-century technology and natural history.
Artist or Maker: Robert Bénard.
Dimensions: Approximately 46 cm x 30 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1778.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
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