The Nine Birds of Jacques de Fornazeris (1594) – The Public Domain Review

In 1594, the engraver Jacques de Fornazeris created a striking flight of nine bird portraits. The series combines technical flair with theatrical charm: the specimens are richly detailed and possess a noticeable vitality. An intense one civet cat (little owl), barbagianni (barn owl), gallo (cock), pavon (peacock), Pernice (partridge), aquila de corona (crowned eagle), anatra saluatica (duck), fagiano (pheasant), and a pelican-like bird described as a sacco marino all occur here. Each poses, conspicuously below the label, accompanied by contextual vegetation and the occasional familiar one – frogs, crabs, butterflies, caterpillars or smaller birds – into view. Fornazeris collaborated with the productive Flemish engraver-publisher Nicolaus van Aelstwho normally specialized in religious and allegorical scenes, to print and distribute the plates.