Description
L.F. Marsigli's Natuurkundige beschryving der Zeen
The beautiful prints presented here are from the first Dutch edition of Luigi Ferdinando Marsigli's Natuurkundige beschryving der Zeen published in The Hague in 1786. These prints are from the fourth part of the book which deals with Mediterranean marine flora and fauna. It was one of the first works where coral was referred to as a living thing instead of inorganic matter.
Marsigli was born in a old patrician family in Bologna. He went on to become an accomplished solider, mapmakers, and scientist. In 1715 he founded the Academy of Sciences and Arts in Bologna. Marsigli is considered to be the father of modern oceanography.
The prints are on fine chain-link paper measuring approximately 9 3/4" x 16".