(Band 4): Viertes Hundert
A German natural history volume by Johann Matthäus Bechstein, published in 1802 and held by Heidelberg University Library, likely aimed at naturalists and collectors of its day. The hand-coloured copperplate plates show butterflies, a crested bird on a branch and an owl perched on a stump, drawn with clean outlines and flat, careful tints. A designer could borrow the crisp botanical-style layouts, muted earth palette of browns, ochres and greens, and the specimen-like framing of single animals on a pale ground.
