Le Pigeon commun

Martinet, François Nicolas, 1731- · [ca. 1770]

François Nicolas Martinet (1725-1804), a French artist living during the late Enlightenment Era, blends science with art in his numerous works. His passion for ornithology led him to collaborate with several notable natural historians, including Georges-Louis Leclerc, Count of Buffon. Martinet created a total of one thousand eight prints for Buffon's extensive Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, from which the plates in this collection derive. Depicting birds in their natural habitats, the plates began as copperplate engravings and later received color from an unknown colorist, possibly Martinet himself. These avian prints emphasize scientific accuracy and natural beauty. Pigeon Commun, a print by Martinet, simulates reality through its synthesis of texture and color. Begun c. 1770- 1786, Pigeon Commun was engraved as plate four hundred sixty-six of Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. Though Martinet intended to depict a common pigeon, the subject more closely resembles a stock dove. In the print, the dove stands in profile, a typical pose for ornithology work. Martinet recreates texture using precise hatch marks and stippling, especially within the plumage. The inclusion of a stump incorporates the bird into a realistic habitat. Masterful coloring accentuates the piece, finalizing value, form, and texture.