White Stork and Jabiru (*Ciconia ciconia*) and (*Jabiru mycteria*) Original hand-colored Antique Print by Prêtre (c.1835)

White Stork and Mitteria: Vertical Elegance in Ornithological Study

This refined ornithological engraving presents two wading birds identified in the plate as Cicogna bianca and Mitteria. The sheet belongs to the ornithological section of the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali, where Pierre Antoine Prêtre captures avian form with clarity and restraint.

The upper White Stork stands in poised vertical balance, while the lower Mitteria introduces darker tonal contrast and a more curved silhouette, producing a composition defined by height, rhythm, and negative space.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The White Stork is rendered with luminous white plumage subtly modulated in grey, contrasted by black wing panels and vivid red legs and beak. The elongated proportions create architectural verticality, making the figure particularly suitable for refined interior settings.

Below, the Mitteria (associated with the genus Mycteria) introduces a darker head and curved beak, balancing the strict linearity of the stork. The restrained palette and generous white margins reinforce the cabinet-of-curiosities clarity characteristic of early nineteenth-century natural history engraving.

About the Subject

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is one of Europe’s most culturally resonant birds, long associated with migration, renewal, and folklore. Its unmistakable silhouette made it a favored subject in scientific and decorative illustration alike.

The Mitteria corresponds to large tropical storks associated with the genus Mycteria, distributed across Africa and Asia. Their distinctive curved beaks and contrasting neck coloration provided natural history artists with elegant structural variation within the broader family of wading birds.

Condition Report

The engraving is in very good antique condition. The impression is clean and well-defined, with preserved original hand-colouring. The paper is smooth early nineteenth-century wove paper (non-laid), consistent with Italian scientific editions of the period. No watermark has been observed. Minor age toning, if present, is consistent with antique paper and does not affect the legibility or decorative quality of the plate.

Details

• Artist (drawn by): Pierre Antoine Prêtre (“Prêtre dip.”)
• Scientific direction: Turpin (“Turpin direx.”)
• Engraver: Deregni (“Deregni inc.”)
• Work / Publication: Dizionario di Scienze Naturali – Sacchetti Collection
• Subjects: White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) & Mitteria (associated with Mycteria sp.)
• Period: early 19th century (c. 1835)
• Technique: Original hand-colored copperplate engraving
• Paper: Original smooth wove paper
• Watermark: None observed
• Sheet size: approximately 22 × 15 cm

For further context on Pierre Antoine Prêtre and his contribution to nineteenth-century zoological illustration, see our editorial feature:

Pierre Antoine Prêtre – Illustrator of Natural Science and Marine Life