Curated Highlights from the Collection
Selected original sea-life engravings from the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali.
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Prêtre – Sea Life from the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali
Pierre Antoine Prêtre captured the mysterious elegance of marine life with extraordinary sensitivity. In these original 19th-century hand-coloured engravings, jellyfish, crinoids and other sea organisms appear as floating sculptures: translucent forms, rhythmic tentacles and radiating structures that seem suspended between science and poetry.
Created for the Florentine Dizionario di Scienze Naturali, these plates reflect an era in which natural history was both a scientific discipline and an artistic pursuit. Today, Prêtre’s sea-life engravings offer a rare combination of anatomical clarity and ethereal beauty — perfect for interiors inspired by the ocean, natural history and refined decorative minimalism.
From the soft pulsation of Aurelia jellyfish to the complex arms of the feather star Euryale asperrima, these plates embody the grace and strangeness of marine organisms. They are ideal for curated coastal walls, modern studios, or interiors seeking a poetic, organic accent.
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Original antique prints — carefully selected and professionally preserved- Individually curated — each piece is unique and never a reproduction
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Heritage Stories – Marine Wonders in the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali
These engravings come from the historic Dizionario di Scienze Naturali, a work that explored the diversity of marine organisms through exquisite hand-coloured plates. Prêtre’s depictions of jellyfish and feather stars remain some of the most delicate and atmospheric examples of 19th-century scientific art.
| Pierre Antoine Prêtre — Illustrator of Marine Life | Sacchetti Collection — “Not Just Another Print” |
Looking for original marine life prints and antique sea-life engravings to enrich your home, office or studio? Explore authentic natural history artworks featuring jellyfish, crinoids and other sea creatures — illustrated with scientific precision and timeless elegance.
Moon Jellyfish...
Hand-colored engraving of Aurelia crenulata, with detailed anatomical illustrations.
Cube Jellyfish...
Three jellyfish species illustrated in fine hand-colored lithography by Prêtre.
Naked-eye Medusa (*...
Trio of rare jellyfish types in soft tones, hand-colored lithograph by Prêtre.
Disc Jellyfish (*Eudra...
Delicate blue-toned depiction of Eudora ondulosa from three perspectives.
Blue Botton Jellyfish...
Antique illustration of the jellyfish Porpita capelluta and Porpita glandifera, from the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali.
Moon Jellyifsh...
Hand-colored engraving of the moon jellyfish Aurelia labiata, drawn by Prêtre for a 19th-century zoological publication.
Cassiopea...
Scientific engraving of Cassiopea, Melicerta and Obelia jellyfish from the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali.
Brittle Star (*Ophiura...
Antique print of Ophiura annulosa (brittle star) with anatomical details from a 19th-century zoological dictionary.
Featherstar ...
Rare 19th-century print of the feather star Comatula of the Adeona, with anatomical details.
Euryale with bare ribs...
Antique engraving of a delicate feather star, vividly colored and highly detailed.
European Encrinus...
Elegant antique depiction of a crinoid with anatomical studies and fine detailing.
