Elephas Ursus - P. Lamy 1698

📜 Description
Antique engraving by P. Lamy, published by J. Certe in Lyon in 1698, depicting two animal species arranged on a neutral field with descriptive and didactic purpose. The plate belongs to the context of late 17th-century zoological illustration, included in a printed work intended for the transmission of natural knowledge. The composition presents two main subjects: in the upper section an elephant labeled “Elephas Elephans,” shown standing with attention to anatomical features such as the trunk, ears, and body mass; in the lower section a bear (“Ursus Ours”), represented in quadruped posture with naturalistic rendering of fur and structure. The inscriptions in Latin and French identify the species and guide the reading of the image, confirming its classificatory and encyclopedic function. The work holds documentary value as an example of 17th-century scientific engraving, reflecting early efforts to visually systematize the animal world.

📚 Historical-artistic note
P. Lamy worked within the sphere of late 17th-century religious and scientific publishing, producing engraved plates for educational works. The publisher J. Certe, active in Lyon, contributed to the dissemination of such publications, in which imagery played a fundamental role as a tool for knowledge and classification. Plates of this type represent an essential component of illustrated books of the period, combining natural observation with encyclopedic intent.

🧾 Technical sheet
Type: antique print
Author / Maker: P. Lamy
Publisher / Printer: J. Certe
Place: Lyon
Period: 1698
Material: paper
Technique: etching
Subject / Title: Elephas Elephans – Ursus Ours
Dimensions: sheet 18.5 × 25 cm; image 16 × 21.5 cm
Inscriptions: “Elephas Elephans”, “Ursus Ours”

🔍 Condition Report
Light water stain visible along the left margin; overall in good condition, with clear impression and well-preserved paper; blank verso.