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François Nicolas Martinet

Bald Ibis from the Cape of Good Hope

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Mexican Prints
On view through January 5, Mexican Prints at the Vanguard explores the rich tradition of printmaking in Mexico—from the 18th century to the mid-20th century—through works drawn mainly from the Museum’s collection.

About the Artwork

Bald Ibis from the Cape of Good Hope, 1770–86. François Nicolas Martinet. Hand-colored etching and engraving. Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019.
This hand-colored image comes from "Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux," a famous set of volumes edited by Georges Louis Leclerc, le comte de Buffon (1707-1788), Intendant du Jardin des Plantes du Roi (head of the royal botanical gardens) under Louis XV. Initially the project was conceived as part of Buffon’s extensive natural history of the world, "Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière," begun in 1749. As published with hand-colored plates engraved by Martinet, the set became an independent set published 1771-86. Distinguished by yellow borders, the images generally show one bird in profile with its habitat indicated in a summary way. Martinet trained as an engineer and draftsman but is best remembered as an engraver, with birds his particular specialty.

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About Our Prints

Quality
Met Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in The Met collection. Thanks to gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.
Selection
This is the only place you’ll find reproductions approved by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.

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