Kleine krokodillen before 1650

"Kleine krokodillen" (Small Crocodiles) is an etching by Italian artist Antonio Tempesta, dated before 1650. The artwork, located in the Rijksmuseum, showcases two crocodiles in a detailed and realistic manner. Tempesta, known for his natural history illustrations, captured the scaly texture of the creatures' skin and their elongated bodies with meticulous detail. The inscription "Cucodrillus minor" identifies the depicted species as small crocodiles. The print's small size, measuring 95mm x 137mm, underscores its intended use as a study of the natural world.