La Chicoree Endive - Regnault 1774-80

📜 Description
Original botanical engraving titled “La Chicorée Endive,” produced between 1774 and 1780 by Nicolas François Regnault for the encyclopedic work “La Botanique(...)”, published by Didot le Jeune in Paris. The plate depicts the chicory plant with a scientific and classificatory layout, illustrating the main stem, blue blossoms, root system, and several analytical details intended for accurate botanical identification of the species. The multilingual inscriptions in Latin, Italian, Spanish, English, and German — “Chicorium,” “Cichorea,” “Almerones,” “Succory,” and “Hindleifft oder Cichorien” — emphasize the educational and documentary purpose of this antique print, conceived for the international dissemination of natural history knowledge during the late eighteenth century. The etching combines scientific precision with refined illustrative quality, giving the work both documentary and collector’s value.

📚 Historical-Artistic Note
Nicolas François Regnault was the author of significant eighteenth-century French botanical plates dedicated to the classification and study of plant species according to Enlightenment scientific principles. Geneviève De Nangis-Regnault collaborated as draughtswoman and engraver, contributing to the analytical rendering of the botanical details. The Parisian publisher Didot le Jeune was among the leading figures in French scientific and encyclopedic publishing of the period, specializing in illustrated works intended for scholars, collectors, and academic circles.

🧾 Technical Sheet
Type: antique botanical print
Author / Maker: Nicolas François Regnault
Designer / Engraver: Genevieve De Nangis-Regnault
Publisher / Printer: Didot le Jeune, Paris
Place: Paris
Period: 1774-1780
Material: paper
Technique: etching
Subject / Title: “La Chicorée Endive - Chicorium - Cichorea - Almerones - Succory - Hindleifft oder Cichorien”
Edition / Print Run: from “La Botanique(...)”
Dimensions: sheet 35.5 x 49.5 cm; engraved area 26 x 38.5 cm
Marks / Signatures / Inscriptions: multilingual engraved title; “G. de Nangis Regnault” engraved in the plate

🔍 Condition Report
Excellent overall condition, with a clear impression and finely preserved botanical details. Minor traces of age consistent with the period and the historical preservation of the print.