A Peruvian Spider Monkey (Ateles chamek) 1759

Aert Schouman’s 1759 watercolor, "A Peruvian Spider Monkey (Ateles chamek)," depicts the monkey clinging to a tree branch with a mountainous landscape in the background. Schouman, a Dutch artist known for his detailed depictions of animals, expertly captures the spider monkey’s physical characteristics, including its long limbs, prehensile tail, and distinctive facial features. The piece exemplifies the 18th-century fascination with natural history and the growing desire to document and understand the world’s biodiversity. This artwork, housed in the Städel Museum, is a testament to the enduring allure of the natural world.