Grenadier, Ribbonfish (Macrourus beryllus, Lepidochirus columnus)

Two Deep-Sea Signatures: Elongation, Light, and the Drama of Form

This original hand-colored engraving presents two marine fishes arranged for comparative study: a Grenadier, Macrourus beryllus, and a Ribbonfish, Lepidochirus columnus. The pairing foregrounds elongation and fin architecture — two of the most visually distinctive themes in early nineteenth-century ichthyology.

The engraving balances scientific clarity with decorative presence. Scale fields are articulated with consistent rhythm, fin membranes are carefully graded, and hand-colouring emphasizes contrast: cool blue-grey tonality is warmed by golden accents along fins and flanks, creating a luminous, controlled surface.

The plate belongs to the Italian edition of the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali (Florence, Battelli press), one of the most ambitious encyclopedic scientific enterprises of its time, for which Pierre Antoine Prêtre produced a remarkable series of marine life plates.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The larger specimen dominates through length and volume, its tail line extending the composition with elegant tension. The smaller fish acts as a counter-study, introducing a second geometry and reinforcing the encyclopedic principle of comparison.

The plate is particularly strong visually because it combines a bright, almost metallic tonal logic with the quiet authority of generous white space — a “museum-clean” presentation that suits modern display exceptionally well.

About the Subject

The Grenadier, Macrourus beryllus, and the Ribbonfish, Lepidochirus columnus, belong to a category of marine subjects that carried strong cultural fascination in the nineteenth century: elongated, deep-water or “unusual” forms that seemed to defy ordinary expectations of fish anatomy. Without photography, antique fish engravings like this were the primary means through which such species entered the public imagination — both as scientific specimens and as symbols of the sea’s hidden complexity. As a 19th-century marine life print, this plate offers powerful SEO relevance (deep-sea fish engraving, antique scientific illustration) and strong collector appeal: two distinct forms, one sheet, and an unmistakably elegant sense of discovery.

Condition Report

The engraving is in excellent antique condition. The sheet presents clean margins and a well-preserved impression. The paper is smooth early nineteenth-century wove paper (non-laid), consistent with Italian scientific editions of the period. No watermark has been observed. The original hand-colouring remains fresh and well preserved, with no visible losses.

Details

• Artist: Pierre Antoine Prêtre
• Work / Publication: Dizionario di Scienze Naturali – Sacchetti Collection
• Period: early 19th century
• Technique: Original hand-colored 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