12491 Robert Benard (1734–1777) – Study of Deer and Reindeer – Engraving (1791)
"Le Cerf de Corse. Le Cerf du Canada. Le Renne. Le Renne (femelle)." This eighteenth-century engraving provides a comparative zoological study of four cervid specimens. The upper register depicts a Corsican red deer and a Canadian elk, emphasizing the differences in their antler structures and body proportions. The lower register illustrates a male and female reindeer, highlighting their unique palmated antlers and thick winter coats adapted for cold climates. This plate was published in Paris as part of the quadruped section of the Encyclopedie Methodique, a scientific series published by Charles-Joseph Panckoucke to expand and reorganize the knowledge of the Enlightenment.
Robert Benard was a prolific French engraver who specialized in technical and scientific illustrations. He served as the primary director for the engraving of the monumental plates for Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopedie, and later for the Encyclopedie Methodique. His work is characterized by a high degree of precision and systematic clarity, which was essential for the taxonomic classification of the animal kingdom during the eighteenth century. Benard’s massive output of thousands of copperplates significantly influenced the visual language of science and helped standardize the representation of natural history across Europe.
Artist or Maker: Robert Benard.
Dimensions: Approximately 29 cm x 21 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1791.
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.
| Värdering | 200 - 300 SEK |
| Köparprovision (inkl. moms) | 24.4% |
| Slagavgift (inkl. moms) | 6 SEK |
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