Conrad Gesner - Historia Animalium - 1558

Rare original 16th-century zoological woodcut depicting three sea snakes, from Conrad Gesner's celebrated Historia Animalium.

Zürich, Froschauer, 1558.

The three woodcuts depict three sea snakes or sea monsters and also showcasing a traditional European sailing vessel navigating the deep ocean waters. Far from a monstrous attack, the illustration captures an intriguing moment of Renaissance maritime navigation and early fishing lore. The wooden ship is populated by passengers or crew members seated comfortably on deck. A colossal marine animal's tail or dorsal element gracefully arches behind the boat, emphasizing the scale and mystery of early modern ocean travel as documented by Renaissance scholars.

Conrad Gesner is considered the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology, and botany.
He was a polymath, physician, philosopher, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian, and illustrator from the Renaissance who devoted most of his time to collecting, researching, and writing. He compiled monumental works on bibliography (Bibliotheca universalis, 1545-1549) and zoology (Historia Animalium, 1551-1558). These woodcuts were published in the so-called "Fischbuch," dedicated to fish and marine animals.

Dimensions: 34,5 x 21,5 cm

Good condition.