10442 Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (1697–1763) – Hunting Flying Fish – Engraving (1746–1759)
This engraving presents a dynamic scene of maritime life titled Chasse des Poissons volants, illustrating the interaction between various marine and avian species. The composition features several flying fish leaping from the water to escape large predatory fish, including an albacore and a dolphin, while being pursued from above by seabirds such as the frigatebird and tropicbird. In the background, a coastal landscape with palm trees and a waterspout, labeled as a column of water, provides a tropical context to the natural struggle. The left margin contains a numbered key identifying nine specific subjects, including the Albatross and the Bonito, which corresponds to the figures in the image. This illustration was featured in the monumental Histoire Generale des Voyages and served as a technical reference for eighteenth-century readers to visualize the exotic fauna and dramatic natural phenomena encountered by explorers in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, commonly known as Abbé Prévost, was a prolific French author and journalist who made significant contributions to the Enlightenment-era dissemination of geographical and natural knowledge. While famous for his literary work Manon Lescaut, he spent decades editing and translating the Histoire Generale des Voyages, a massive multi-volume encyclopedia of global exploration. This series synthesized centuries of travel accounts and natural history observations into a structured format, becoming an essential resource for the study of ethnography and marine biology. Prévost's work allowed the French public to explore the world's diverse environments through detailed text and high-quality engravings, helping to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and popular curiosity during the eighteenth century.
Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles .
Dimensions: Approximately 25 cm x 20 cm .
Medium: Engraving .
Date: 1746–1759
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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