Zeeschildpad before 1650

Antonio Tempesta made this print of a sea turtle in the late 16th or early 17th century using etching and engraving. The image, with its descriptive labels in Latin, reflects the early modern European fascination with the natural world, and the drive to classify and understand it through detailed observation and representation. Prints like these circulated widely in Europe at the time, thanks to the developing printmaking industry. They were collected in books and albums by wealthy Europeans, studied by naturalists, and used as source material by artists and artisans. Tempesta, who lived in Rome, was known for his prolific output of prints, including animal studies, battle scenes, and biblical illustrations. His work catered to a growing market for affordable, reproducible images. The Rijksmuseum's collection of prints and drawings offers a rich resource for understanding the history of art, science, and culture in early modern Europe. By studying these images, we can learn about the world as it was understood, imagined, and represented in a period of rapid change and discovery.