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Fine Art. Antique Prints, Maps and Drawings / 14-02-2026, 18:00 CET

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"Pêches aux Filets" This engraving provides a detailed technical study of maritime fishing apparatus used in the eighteenth century. The upper register features two primary diagrams: Figure 1 depicts a sailing vessel, possibly a tartane, deploying a large "bœuf" or trawl net that descends into the water column to capture fish in its weighted belly. The lower register focuses on a stationary or drift net positioned along the seabed, showing how weights and lines are used to maintain the net's structure against underwater currents. Each component is meticulously labeled with letters (A through N) to correspond with descriptive text in the original publication. This plate was published in the French edition of the voyages of discovery, translated and compiled by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard and printed in Paris. Robert Benard was a prolific French engraver who served as the director of the engraving department for the monumental Diderot Encyclopédie. He specialized in technical and scientific illustration, personally supervising the production of over 2,000 plates that documented industrial processes, mechanical inventions, and geographic discoveries. Benard's work is defined by its extreme clarity and rigorous attention to detail, which was essential for communicating complex engineering and cartographic data to an Enlightenment audience. His contributions were fundamental to the success of major scientific publications of the eighteenth century, and his style set an international standard for technical engraving. Artist or Maker: Robert Benard. Dimensions: Approximately 31 cm x 23 cm. Medium: Engraving. Date: 1774. 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.

Robert Benard (1734–1777) – Deep-Sea and Drift Net Fishing – Engraving (1774)

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"Tab X" This etching presents a detailed study of cephalopods and various gastropod shells. The upper portion of the composition features a common octopus with eight radiating tentacles and a nautilus shown both in its living state with tentacles extended and as a cross-section to reveal its internal chambers. The remainder of the plate displays a variety of ornate shells, including the spiral forms of the Purpura, Buccina, and Murex genera, as well as the elongated Strambus magnus. Each specimen is rendered with fine linework to highlight the textures, ridges, and complex architectural structures of the shells. This work was published in the Historiae Naturalis, specifically within the volume De Piscibus et Cetis, printed in Amsterdam by Joannes Janssonius. Johannes Jonston was a prominent physician and naturalist of Scottish descent who was active in Poland and the Netherlands during the seventeenth century. He is best known for his monumental encyclopedic series on natural history, which sought to compile and categorize the global knowledge of zoology, botany, and mineralogy. Jonston collaborated with the renowned Merian family of engravers to produce high quality illustrations that served as standard references for European scholars for several generations. His work was instrumental in the transition from Renaissance naturalism to the more systematic biological observations of the early modern period. Artist or Maker: Johannes Jonston. Dimensions: Approximately 34 cm x 21 cm. Medium: Etching. Date: 1657. 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.

Johannes Jonston (1603-1675) – Octopus, Nautilus, and Shells – Etching (1657)

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"The Protection of Leaves" This engraving features a detailed botanical study illustrating the developmental stages of leaf growth. The composition presents four distinct figures labeled First Stage through Fourth Stage, documenting the emergence of Horse Chestnut foliage from its protective stipules. The central, largest figure shows the mature leaves fully extended, while the smaller surrounding diagrams show the infant foliage covered in fine down and the initial breaking of the bud. Each stage is accompanied by descriptive English text explaining the physiological process of the plant's liberation and growth. The work is rendered with precise linear detail, emphasizing the texture of the stems and the intricate venation of the emerging leaves. This plate was published in London by Dr. Thornton in March 1805. Robert John Thornton was a British physician and botanical writer best known for his ambitious and visually spectacular publication, New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnæus. Within this work, the section titled The Temple of Flora became particularly famous for its dramatic, full-page floral portraits set against romanticized landscapes. Despite the artistic success and enduring legacy of his publications, the enormous cost of employing the finest engravers and artists of the day eventually led Thornton to financial ruin. His projects represent a unique intersection of Enlightenment science and Romantic aesthetics, making his prints some of the most sought-after examples of nineteenth-century botanical art. Artist or Maker: Robert John Thornton. Dimensions: Approximately 48 cm x 35 cm. Medium: Engraving. Date: 1805. 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.

Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) – The Protection of Leaves – Engraving (1805)

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"Floating Leaves and Wave Pattern" This woodcut features a rhythmic decorative design consisting of overlapping semicircular wave patterns, known as seigaiha, in shades of yellow and pink. Three green leaves are scattered across the composition, appearing to float on the surface of the water. The background waves are punctuated with small, abstract marks, adding a subtle texture to the repetitive geometric field. This work exemplifies the Japanese aesthetic of kacho-ga, or bird-and-flower pictures, adapted into a stylized pattern suitable for textile design or decorative paper. The balance of organic forms against a structured, traditional background reflects the artistic continuity maintained in twentieth-century Japanese printmaking. The Japanese School refers to the broad tradition of printmaking and painting that flourished in Japan, particularly the development of woodblock printing. In the twentieth century, this tradition evolved through the shin-hanga and sosaku-hanga movements, which revitalized classical themes with modern technical sensibilities. Artists of this school often explored the interplay between traditional decorative patterns and natural subjects like birds and flowers. Their works were highly influential on Western art and design, contributing significantly to the global appreciation of Japanese craftsmanship. Today, these twentieth-century woodcuts are valued for their technical precision and their ability to bridge the gap between historical heritage and modern decorative art. Artist or Maker: Japanese School. Dimensions: Approximately 24 cm x 16 cm. Medium: Woodcut. Date: (20th Century). 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.

Japanese School (20th Century) – Floating Leaves and Wave Pattern – Woodcut (20th Century)

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"Seated Woman" This lithograph features a delicate study of a seated female figure, rendered with the highly expressive and fluid lines characteristic of the artist's draftsmanship. The composition captures the subject in an elegant, reclined pose, with a focus on the flowing contours of her garment and the subtle, serene expression on her face. The sketchy, energetic line work provides an intimate glimpse into the artist's observational style. This work was part of a posthumous series of prints produced in Vienna by Gilhofer and Ranschburg shortly after the artist's death. Gustav Klimt was a leading Austrian Symbolist painter and a founding member of the Vienna Secession movement. He is renowned for his decorative, ornate style and his prominent use of gold leaf during his "Golden Phase," most famously seen in his masterpiece The Kiss. Klimt's work often focused on the female body, blending frank eroticism with sophisticated psychological depth and complex patterns. His extensive body of drawings and preparatory sketches provides a profound insight into his creative process and his dedication to capturing the elegance and vulnerability of his subjects. Klimt's influence on modern art remains significant, as he bridged the gap between traditional nineteenth-century academic art and the avant-garde movements of the twentieth century. Artist or Maker: Gustav Klimt, after. Dimensions: Approximately 59 cm x 42 cm. Medium: Lithograph. Date: 20th century. 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.

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918), after – Seated Woman – Lithograph (20th century)