Decorative Set of Three Antique Fish Prints - Ornamental History Prints, ca.1770

Set of Three Engravings of Fish from Diderot & d'Alembert's Encyclopédie, ca. 1770 A striking set of three copperplate engravings from Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's monumental 'Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers', published in folio format in Paris around 1770. This encyclopedic project, one of the great intellectual achievements of the Enlightenment, aimed to gather and disseminate all available knowledge of the sciences, arts, and natural history. The plates are taken from the 'Histoire naturelle. Suite du règne animal', specifically the ichthyological section, which depicted both familiar and exotic fish species based on contemporary descriptions and traveler accounts. The engravings show an extraordinary range of forms, from recognizable species such as the turbot, skate, and sawfish to the more curious and fantastical renderings of the pufferfish and hammerhead. Each engraving demonstrates the Enlightenment's dual ambition of scientific accuracy and artistic refinement. The engravers employed subtle shading and linework to convey textures of scales, fins, and unusual body shapes. While some representations are naturalistically correct, others reflect the imaginative interpretations of an era in which explorers' reports were not always consistent, resulting in depictions that today appear both scientific and surreal. Together, these three folio sheets form an impressive ensemble, perfectly capturing the intellectual and artistic spirit of 18th-century natural history. They are not only valuable as decorative prints but also as historical documents, representing the ambition of Diderot and d'Alembert to democratize knowledge and classify the natural world. For collectors of Enlightenment scientific works, prints from the *Encyclopédie* are among the most iconic and sought-after. Condition report: Good condition with strong plate impressions and visible platemarks. Light age toning, minor foxing, and handling wear consistent with age. Unframed, offered as three separate sheets. Framing tips: These folio engravings are particularly effective when displayed as a unified set. Consider dark wood or black frames with wide ivory mounts to emphasize the fine engraving lines. For an elegant accent, use double matting with a subtle blue or green inner border to echo the marine theme. Displayed side by side, they form a commanding decorative and scholarly statement. Technique: Copperplate engraving Maker: Denis Diderot & Jean le Rond d'Alembert, Paris, ca. 1770.…