John Jonston (1603–1675) - Various Serpent and Snake...

This herpetological plate shows four different kinds of snakes, each drawn in a coiled, undulating pose with open jaws, arranged across the sheet in a clear, systematic order. Among them are the Aesculapian snakes, a name recalling the ancient association between this serpent and Asclepius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine, whose staff entwined by a snake remains a symbol of healing today. The engraver gives particular attention to the overlapping scales, the varied patterns and markings of the skin, and the supple, rhythmic curves of the bodies. These details give the figures a vivid sense of movement while preserving the descriptive clarity required of a scientific illustration. The plate belongs to John Jonston's Historiae Naturalis de Serpentibus, the volume of his great zoological encyclopaedia devoted to serpents and dragons. It was published in Frankfurt am Main in the early 1650s by the Merian family firm, with copperplates engraved by Matthäus Merian the Younger and Caspar Merian. Drawing on classical authors as well as the work of Renaissance naturalists such as Conrad Gesner and Ulisse Aldrovandi, the series offered readers a comprehensive and richly illustrated survey of the animal world. John Jonston (1603–1675), known in Latin as Johannes Jonstonus, was a Polish naturalist and physician whose family had emigrated from Scotland. Educated at some of the leading universities of Protestant Europe, he combined medical practice with wide-ranging scholarship in theology, history and the natural sciences. He spent much of his career in the service of the Leszczyński family and later retired to an estate in Silesia, where he continued to write. His Historiae Naturalis, admired for its orderly classification and splendid plates, was translated and reprinted many times and influenced natural history writing well into the eighteenth century. Artist or Maker: John Jonston Dimensions: Approximately 34 cm x 20 cm. Medium: Engraving. Date: 17th Century. SKU: PLA-0930-2 ____ Shipping & Combined Purchases: We are happy to combine multiple purchases into one shipment, helping you save on shipping costs. Please contact us before making payment so that we can calculate and adjust the shipping cost accordingly. All items are professionally packed and shipped from France by Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) on behalf of Dahlströms Rare Prints OÜ, Estonia. Every shipment is fully insured and sent exclusively via UPS or FedEx, with tracking provided after dispatch. We handle every shipment with the utmost care, ensuring that our antique prints, maps and rare books arrive safely and in the condition described.

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