{"product_id":"carabe-plate-178-by-robert-benard","title":"Carabe (Plate 178) by Robert Bénard","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarabe (Plate 178) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eby \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBénard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1797\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand Colored Engraving\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis striking 18th-century natural history print offers a finely detailed visual inventory of ground beetles under the heading \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarabe (Plate 178)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The composition showcases an array of colorful specimens meticulously rendered from a dorsal view to highlight their segmented antennae, distinct body structures, and vivid coloration, which ranges from iridescent greens and deep blues to patterned golds. Each beetle is labeled with its early taxonomic common name, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLe Carabe Scrutateur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLe Carabe Sycophante\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Produced under the direction of master engraver \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Bénard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (inscribed as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Benard Direxit\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), this hand-colored copperplate engraving was published circa \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1797\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as part of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCharles-Joseph Panckoucke’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emonumental series \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistoire Naturelle, Insectes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe print stems from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEncyclopédie Méthodique\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, an ambitious French publishing venture designed to expand and systematically improve upon Diderot and d’Alembert's famous \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEncyclopédie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Bénard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a highly skilled French printmaker and director of engraving workshops during the late 18th century, was uniquely vital to this massive project, overseeing the production of thousands of technical and scientific plates to ensure rigorous accuracy. This particular engraving is of significant historical importance because it documents the early scientific efforts to classify the diverse Carabidae family during the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnlightenment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, reflecting a societal pivot toward empirical observation and the democratic dissemination of natural history knowledge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eH 11 ½” x 8” W\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: In very good condition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55143789658391,"sku":"PR0287-3","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0668\/3607\/0679\/files\/PR0287-3.1.jpg?v=1788891337","url":"https:\/\/antonioraimogallery.com\/products\/carabe-plate-178-by-robert-benard","provider":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}