Bertuch Marine Life Engravings Set (1792–1810) Hand-Coloured Octopus, Jellyfish & Shell Plates

A rare and visually striking set of three original hand-coloured engravings from Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s Bilderbuch für Kinder, published in Weimar between 1792 and 1810. Originally issued as separate engraved plates and later bound into volumes, their survival as individual prints reflects both their method of production and long-standing collecting practice, where such works are valued and presented independently.

This curated group brings together three complementary studies of marine life: a dynamic cephalopod plate (octopus and squid forms), a delicate jellyfish study, and a shell composition. When viewed together, the set captures the full range of late 18th-century natural history illustration, from structural precision to early attempts at depicting movement and translucency.

The cephalopod plate is the strongest visually, with its symmetrical compositions and distinctive red-accented eyes giving it an almost ornamental quality. The jellyfish engraving offers a softer, more minimal aesthetic, while the shell plate provides balance through detailed surface texture and form. Together, they form a cohesive and highly decorative grouping.

Produced under the direction of Melchior Kraus and Johann Heinrich Lips, and engraved by a team of accomplished artists, Bertuch’s work represents one of the earliest large-scale attempts to visualise knowledge for a broad audience. With over 1,100 plates, the Bilderbuch für Kinder stands as a landmark in the development of modern illustrated non-fiction.

This set is particularly well suited to framing as a trio and works equally well in both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Artist
Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822)

Title
Marine Life Studies (Set of Three Plates)

Date
1792–1810

Medium
Hand-coloured engravings

Dimensions
Sheet: approx. 20.3 × 24.1 cm (8 × 9½ in) each
Image: variable within plate mark

Origin
Weimar, Germany

Condition
Very good overall. Light age toning, occasional minor spotting and edge wear consistent with late 18th-century paper. Colours remain strong and well preserved. Please review images carefully.