Handcolored engraving of occidental pink venus shells (Venus dione) from "Naturalist's Miscellany" (1794).
"The Naturalist's Miscellany" written by George Shaw and illustrated by Frederick Nodder, published in England, 1789~1813. George Shaw (1751-1813) was a Doctor, Fellow of the Royal Society, co-founder of the Linnean Society, and Zoologist of the British Museum. He wrote the text in both English and Latin for all 24 volumes of the "Naturalist's Miscellany" from its launch in 1789 until his death in 1813. Simultaneously, Shaw was also writing the text for the 14 volumes of "General Zoology" published from 1800 to 1825. Like a Cabinet of Wonders, the series introduced hundreds of strange and wonderful lifeforms from the South Seas to a fascinated British public. Frederick Polydore Nodder (1751~1801?) was a gifted natural history artist and engraver. Nodder honed his draftsmanship working on Captain Cook and Joseph Banks' "Florilegium" and engraving Sydney Parkinson's sketches of Australian plants. He was made "botanic painter to her majesty" Queen Charlotte in 1785. Diarist Robert Jameson met him in 1793 and recorded that he was "a very awkward and strange looking man." Nodder also drew the botanical studies in Thomas Martyn's "Flora Rustica" (1792) and "38 Plates" (1799). Most of the 1,064 illustrations of animals, birds, insects, crustaceans, fishes, marine life and microscopic creatures for the "Naturalist's Miscellany" were drawn, engraved and published by Frederick Nodder's family. Frederick himself drew and engraved many of the copperplates until his death. His wife Elizabeth is credited as publisher on the volumes after 1801. Their son Richard Polydore (1774~1823) was responsible for the plates signed RN or RPN. Richard exhibited at the Royal Academy and became botanic painter to King George III. The illustrations are characterized by vivid colouring, fine detail, and a certain posed stiffness in the ornithological portraits, perhaps because they were sketched from dead specimens.
Size: 2072px × 3607px
Photo credit: © Florilegius / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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