Eagle Owl and Tawny Owl (*Bubo bubo*) and (*Strix aluco*) Original hand-colored Antique Print by Prêtre (c.1835)

Eagle Owl and Tawny Owl: Nocturnal Majesty in Copper and Umber

This refined ornithological engraving presents two nocturnal raptors identified in the plate as Gufo reale and Gufo salvatico. The sheet belongs to the ornithological section of the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali, where Pierre Antoine Prêtre renders birds of prey with expressive clarity and disciplined form.

The upper Eagle Owl dominates with imposing presence and flaring ear tufts, while the lower owl introduces softer contours and subtler chromatic transitions, creating a composition rich in texture and psychological intensity.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is rendered in layered amber, ochre, and umber tones, with sharply defined plumage patterns and vivid orange eyes that anchor the composition. The upright posture and extended body create vertical monumentality within the restrained margins of the plate.

Below, the second owl (associated with Strix species) displays cooler grey-brown feathering with delicate linear detailing. The contrast between the textured, almost fiery upper figure and the calmer lower bird produces compositional balance while maintaining the cabinet-of-curiosities clarity characteristic of early nineteenth-century natural history engraving.

About the Subject

The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is one of Europe’s largest and most powerful owls, long associated with wisdom, vigilance, and nocturnal authority. Its imposing size and expressive gaze made it a compelling subject in zoological illustration.

Owls of the genus Strix represent woodland nocturnal species characterized by rounded heads and forward-facing eyes. In nineteenth-century natural history works, nocturnal raptors symbolized both scientific curiosity and the romantic fascination with the unseen world of the night.

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: Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) & Owl (associated with Strix 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