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Naked-eye Medusa (* Orythia viridis*), Dianea & Gerionia (Marine Jellyfish) Pretre (c1835)
€145.00
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Trio of rare jellyfish types in soft tones, hand-colored lithograph by Prêtre.
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Your print will be carefully prepared and shipped worldwide via trusted couriers (UPS or similar).
Authentic antique prints
Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
Delicate Forms Suspended in Motion
This refined engraving portrays Orythia viridis, Dianea Gaberti, and Gerionia tetrafilla, three luminous medusarian species illustrated by Pierre Antoine Prêtre for the Dizionario di Scienze Naturali.
The composition contrasts elongated trailing tentacles with rounded, translucent bells, creating vertical dynamism across the plate.
— • —
Visual and Aesthetic Analysis
The upper golden medusa radiates warmth, while the lower green-toned figure introduces marine coolness. Fine stippling renders translucency with remarkable subtlety.
The flowing tentacles evoke suspended motion, lending the engraving an ethereal decorative presence.
About the Subject
These species belong to the broader hydrozoan and medusarian families studied extensively during the expansion of marine taxonomy in the nineteenth century.
Their gelatinous bodies are composed primarily of water, yet their structural symmetry demonstrates highly efficient evolutionary design. Some species possess light-sensitive organs capable of detecting environmental variation.
Such organisms challenged early naturalists, who sought to classify creatures lacking rigid skeletons yet displaying intricate biological organization.
Heritage Stories
The Sacchetti Collection preserves these medusarian plates as testimony to an era when marine life was studied with both intellectual discipline and artistic sensitivity.
Nearly two centuries later, their elegance remains undiminished.
Nobility of Natural History Prints – The Sacchetti Collection
Condition Report
Excellent antique condition. Clean margins and vibrant original hand coloring. No watermark observed.
Details
- Artist: Pierre Antoine Prêtre
- Work: 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: approx. 22 × 15 cm
Discover more about Pierre Antoine Prêtre and his contribution to natural history illustration
Looking for: antique medusa engraving, 19th-century jellyfish illustration, hydrozoan print, marine natural history art.
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Trio of rare jellyfish types in soft tones, hand-colored lithograph by Prêtre.